Diet Pills Blow Mosquito Meals, Potentially Reducing the Spread of Disease | Science

Worldwide, the squeaking of mosquito wings can be synonymous with illness or even death. But what if they stopped biting? Researchers have developed a drug that deters mosquitoes from sucking blood, L & # 39; Atlantic reports. The researchers found that drugs that inhibit human appetite had the same effect on mosquitoes. After changing the drugs so that they only work on mosquitoes, the study's authors tested them. Mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) treated with the new drug show no interest in biting sleeping mice in the laboratory, researchers said yesterday Cell. However, this technique is not without limits. The effects of a dose fade after a few days and the compound should be administered to millions of mosquitoes to hurt itself. If researchers can overcome these obstacles, the world could have a powerful new weapon in the fight against diseases such as malaria, Zika virus and dengue fever.