Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
06 August 2014 09:19
Mosquitoes can spread dangerous diseases such as malaria
Smartphone apps which emit ultrasonic frequencies may help keep mosquitoes at bay, but experts warn against using them as standalone repellents.
Mosquitoes can be a serious problem for travellers as they can spread serious tropical diseases such as malaria, which can be fatal.
Electronic mosquito repellents, or EMRs, claim to work by emitting sounds mimicking those of mosquito predators such as bats and dragonflies.
Alternatively, they replicate the noise made by the wings of male insects as once a female mosquito has mated, she is thought to actively avoid contact with males.
The most popular app of its kind is the Anti Mosquito Sonic Repeller, which comes with a range of frequencies to target different species of mosquito, depending on location.
The app's developers claim that most people will not notice the sound it emits, as the pitch is so high it is inaudible to humans.
But the app does not guarantee 100% protection from mosquitoes as there are over 3,500 species, all of which react slightly differently to the sound.
In fact, experts have warned against using EMRs as sole repellents and stress the importance of using more conventional measures to avoid sustaining bites and having to claim for treatment on your medical travel insurance policy.
Researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine found that EMRs had no impact on the landing rates of mosquitoes.
This means there is no evidence that such devices or apps could help prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria in humans, they say.
The experts also stress that there is little proof that female mosquitoes avoid males after mating, adding that it is in fact the males which are attracted by the female flight sound.
By contrast female mosquitoes have a very low sensitivity for sound compared to their male counterparts.
15 January 2019
NHS commissioners could be slapped with a £2,500 fine for every patient left waiting more than a year for vital care, new proposals suggest.
[more...]
12 January 2019
All UK airports should buy anti-drone technology and not rely on the Royal Air Force to help out, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.
10 January 2019
The military was brought in on Tuesday night after police officers saw a drone operating at Heathrow Airport, forcing departures to be suspended for an hour.
11 January 2019
A so-called "drug sponge" that mops up leftover drugs from cancer treatment could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, new research has claimed.
09 January 2019
A hormone released during exercise could help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
08 January 2019
Ryanair has been labelled the worst airline operating in the UK for the sixth year running in a leading consumer group survey.
05 January 2019
Anti-drone technology will be deployed at the UK's two busiest airports in response to the disruption caused before Christmas.
04 January 2019
A new cancer-detecting breathalyser test is being trialled in the UK - in a move that could revolutionise the way the disease is diagnosed.
03 January 2019
The average 10-year-old child will have already eaten more sugar in their life than the maximum amount recommended for 18-year-olds, a new study reveals.
01 January 2019
The number of travellers satisfied with flying has fallen over the last two years over frustration with how airlines handle complaints, new research reveals.
25 December 2018
People are being encouraged to connect with friends, neighbours and others in their community this Christmas to help tackle loneliness.
29 December 2018
Nearly 300 travellers have been arrested over the past two years for being drunk at an airport or on a plane.