The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it will facilitate the process of transferring an irradiating range of cobalt-60 to Brazil to help the country in combating the Zika virus epidemic. The announcement came after two days of meetings with Brasilia experts to deal with the use of nuclear techniques for the control of Aedes aegypti in Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to the agency, the transfer of technology should enable, in a few months, the large-scale production of sterile male mosquitoes to be released in selected areas of the countries most affected by the epidemic. The strategy, known as the Sterile Insect Technique, is a type of pest control that uses ionizing radiation and, according to the IAEA, it has been successfully used for over 50 years in agriculture.
The equipment must be delivered to the specialized center in sterilizing male insects located in Juazeiro, Bahia. The irradiator range of cobalt-60 is considered by the IAEA as an essential component for the technical application of the Aedes aegypti. “Once released, these male mosquitoes mate with females that will not produce larvae, effectively suppressing the insect population over time”
Edition:. Grace Adjuto
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