Mosquitoes used in fight against Zika

Scientists are to release mosquitoes in Colombia and Brazil carrying a bacteria which could “significantly reduce” the insects’ ability to transmit viruses like Zika to humans.

New funding to tackle infectious diseases was announced in London yesterday with the UK government pledging around £360 million over the next four years on research.

Trials have shown in areas with large concentrations of mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia bacteria “there is no local transmission” of viruses.