New method out to control diseases

A new technique is being tested to control some diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. The technique, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) will be used to ‘castrate’ male mosquitos in global efforts to control such diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is a form of insect birth control which involves “rearing large quantities of sterilised male mosquitoes in dedicated facilities, and then releasing them to mate with females in the wild”. Due to the fact that they cannot produce any offspring, the insect population declines over time, states WHO.