MikeLigalig.com

By GABRIEL S. MABUTAS

The government might eventually end up giving out pepper pellets, not for condiments but as a means of decimating dengue-bearing mosquitoes.

This, if scientists at the Philippine National Health Research Institute (PNHRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) would find it practical and effective.

PNHRI Executive Director Jaime Montoya told a press conference that they are looking at the possible use of pepper pellets to reduce the population of dengue vectors.

“May mga technology na tayo laban sa lamok. Napag-alaman ko lang na [We already have technology against mosquitoes. I just learned that] based on the researches made by the PCHRD (Philippine Council for Health Research and Development), ‘yung pepper pellets have (a killing effect) against a larva. Pag nilagay mo sa tubig ‘yan at dumapo d’yan, nangitlog dyan ang lamok, patay ang lamok. [If you put that in water and a mosquito hatches egg on it, it will die],” he said.

“I only found out that the PCHRD partner had that project several years ago. So tinitingnan namin ito,” the DoST health research chief said.

He revealed that they are considering the use of pepper pellets in their bid to address dengue, as he defends the stand of the DoST against the use of insecticide called dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT).

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