The US used pesticides to kill Zika.

(Baonghean) - On September 24, US health officials said that for several weeks, planes have been spraying a pesticide in the southeastern United States that is considered a "decisive factor" in killing the mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus.

An airplane sprays pesticides to kill mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus. Photo: Reuters

Tom Frieden, director of the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the pesticide product is effective in killing the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the vector that transmits the Zika virus to humans.

According to Frieden, spraying this pesticide from the air will allow for a "rapid reduction in mosquito numbers" compared to spraying on the ground, and this "appears to be the most effective option" and a "decisive factor" in the fight against the Zika virus.

Currently, the use of this pesticide is causing much controversy because it is mainly applied as a spray and contains "naled" - a substance banned in the European Union.

The substance "naled" has been used in the US since 1959 to repel mosquitoes despite the risks it may pose to humans and the environment.

The European Union banned its use in 2012, but the US Environmental Protection Agency still considers it safe if sprayed in small amounts.

Since the beginning of September, American media outlets have reported on the phenomenon of millions of bees dying in South Carolina after being sprayed with a chemical following the discovery of four Zika cases in the area.

In response to this information, the CDC reiterated that there have been no reported cases of illness related to naled in recent times.

Mr. Frieden said he understood people's concerns but assured them that only "very small" amounts of pesticides were used.

To date, the US has confirmed more than 3,300 cases of Zika infection, mostly due to travel to countries experiencing outbreaks. Of these, 95 cases were contracted in Florida.

The Zika virus is known to be transmitted through mosquitoes and sexual contact. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause abnormal brain development in the fetus.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Figaro)