Zika Virus Repellent? Chilean Chemists Claim To Have Invented Mosquito Resistant Detergent

Scientists from Grupo Avance were not necessarily looking to find an Aedes aegypti mosquito repelling formula, but coincidentally they did. The team lead by general manager and biochemist Mario Reyes told EFE reportedly merged various projects and ended up with this useful combination. “We had graphene, copper powder, lactone and we put them all together,” Reyes explained. The result happened to come in the form of a detergent that can repel the mosquito that carries the Zika virus, as well as dengue fever and other diseases.

Reyes went on to explain that this newfound “bioadditive” can be mixed with detergent to provide protective clothing against the dreaded mosquito bite. “We produce lactone, a natural, non-toxic insecticide; we develop graphene, which turns the mosquito away, and copper powder, an excellent antibacterial substance,” Reyes continued explaining how the combination came about. And although the formula has not yet been scientifically confirmed, it should move quickly in that direction as it would have immense value in preventing the spread of Zika.

The advantage point would not just be to protect people from getting bitten but to shrink the mosquito population. “To lay their eggs, the females need the blood of mammals. If they don't have it, their population shrinks,” Reyes concluded.