Fungus can help control malaria

Malaria is one of the big human killers, but few people are aware also that malaria can have large impacts on bird and mammal populations, specially when they have been isolated in islands and unexposed to disease for millions of years (such as avian malaria and pox in Hawaii).

Traditionally mosquitoes that bear disease like malaria and pox have been controlled without much success with insecticides. But according to a report in Nature News researchers at Imperial College and Wageningen University, have discovered an effective way of controlling mosquitoes with a fungus (Bauveria bassiana) sprayed in an oil mixture. This affects their mortality, lifespan and results in an 80-fold reduction in their ability to transmit the disease.

There are still issues regarding how long the oil-fungus concotion can last under field conditions, but still encouraging!

ahumadameister