Mosquitoes find their targets by sniffing out a variety of chemicals and bacteria on human skin. Researcher Ulrich Bernier discovered that some chemicals found on the skin in low concentrations make human scent undetectable to mosquitoes. He began to work the compounds into a sort of chemical invisibility cloak which he envisions could be sprayed around an area where people are sitting. His formula appears effective against other biting insects, as well.
The commercial availability of the product is still far from execution, as there are toxicity studies to conduct and concentration levels to work out. Bernier’s product is novel in the fact that it makes human skin completely undetectable to the insects. Other products like DEET produce a bad odor to insects. The two problems with DEET is that there is some concern about the toxicity of the product over longer usage and the fact that mosquitoes seem to be building up a resistance to the repellent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that every year there are over 100 million cases of disease caused by biting insects throughout the world. Health officials in developed and developing countries are constantly working to address ways to control mosquitoes in affected areas and educate people about what they can do to help control mosquito populations.
Bernier’s new repellent appears to be a strong new contender in the fight against insect-borne disease. Looking at a familiar problem with a new approach can yield rewarding results as Bernier and his colleagues found out with their recent discovery. Across industry, hiring professionals are looking for professionals who can think outside the box and produce innovative, effective and cost-conscious results.
With the advent of many new technologies, shifting health care infrastructures and evolving diagnostic procedures, professionals interested in maintaining their competitive edge must be willing to keep learning new skills. Online learning is one way to stay up to date with changes in best-practice protocol. A main advantage of online learning is that as the industry changes, instructors can update their Internet-based course materials much faster than it takes for a traditional textbook to be updated. As a result, students get interaction with top industry leaders and the most current learning material and information available.
