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modified on 2017-10-25, 20:16
Major outbreaks of dengue fever, chikungunya fever and Zika virus have been recently reported in Brazil and around the world. The same mosquito, Aedes aegypti, transmits all three diseases, and thus, the best way to fight these diseases is by eliminating mosquito foci, as effective vaccines are not yet available. One product that deserves attention is the liquid from shells of cashew nuts, which is able to kill 100% of Ae. aegypti larvae within three hours after its application without damaging mammals that may come into contact with it. Our studies have shown that a dose up to ten times greater than the recommended dose is not toxic, and therefore, we infer that the formulation is safe to use and poses low risk of toxicity to mammals. For these reasons, we believe that this product is an efficient and safe larvicide for epidemic control and vector management and is also advantageous for commercial use due to its economic and clean production process.