Poisoning Mosquitoes with Human Blood
16th April 2025
Few creatures are as deadly as the mosquito. These small insects are responsible for transmitting malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and other diseases that collectively kill over a million people every year. While insecticides have long been the main tool for controlling mosquito populations, they have significant drawbacks: They can harm other insects, contribute to environmental damage, and are becoming increasingly ineffective as mosquitoes develop resistance.
But what if we could turn the tables on these pests and make their favourite food—human blood—a lethal weapon against them?
A groundbreaking recent study shows that mosquitoes can be poisoned by the blood of people taking a specific medication. The drug, nitisinone, is already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating certain rare genetic disorders, and researchers have now found that it is also highly effective at killing malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Reminds me of the famous Superbowl hot-sauce commercial.