Tehran:Iran's Atomic Energy Organization and the Ministry of Health have reached an agreement to employ nuclear technology in efforts to control disease-carrying mosquitoes, specifically targeting the Aedes aegypti species.

Accourding to Islamic Republic News Agency, the agreement was signed by AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami and Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi. The initiative aims to broaden the application of nuclear technology within the healthcare sector.

The agreement outlines the establishment of a facility dedicated to the mass-rearing of sterile male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. This process will include both laboratory and field trials to evaluate the technology's efficacy. The strategy involves sterilizing male mosquitoes using radiation, which are then released into selected areas to reduce reproduction rates and suppress mosquito populations over time.

The AEOI will contribute to the project by supplying gamma or X-ray irradiation equipment, providing training for personnel, offering specialists in irradiation and dosimetry, and ensuring the correct operation and maintenance of the equipment.