The best mosquito control effect can not be achieved by using chemical drugs.

Xinhua News Agency, London, December 14-A new study released by the University of East Anglia in the UK shows that mosquitoes play an important role in the process of spreading a variety of viruses, but the effect of controlling mosquito populations by chemical methods such as pesticides is not obvious for a long time, and sometimes even counterproductive.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia report in the journal Public Library of Science neglected Tropical Diseases that they have analyzed a number of past studies on mosquito population control. At present, the main mosquito control measures used in various places are: biological methods, that is, the introduction of crustaceans and fish that feed on mosquito larvae in reservoirs; chemical methods such as spraying insecticides; and guiding the public to avoid mosquito breeding through community publicity, such as removing stagnant water points.

Overall, these studies failed to provide substantial evidence that the use of chemicals can ultimately reduce mosquito populations, the report said. Biological methods have shown slightly better mosquito control effects than chemical methods, but there is still no clear evidence that this method can effectively control mosquito populations, the report said.

In fact, there is some evidence that spraying chemicals may be counterproductive, misleading people into thinking that the use of pesticides can protect against mosquitoes, says Paul Hunt of the University of East Anglia, one of the authors of the report. thus ignoring other preventive measures.

Controlling the number of mosquitoes can help curb the spread of mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika virus and dengue virus. At present, the World Health Organization proposes to take comprehensive measures to control the number of mosquitoes, encourage people in the community to maintain environmental hygiene, and put an end to the emergence of mosquito-breeding "nests". (reporter Zhang Jiawei)