Current Context: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) research center in Puducherry develops technology to kill mosquitos.
- ICMR research center in Puducherry develops Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti strain VCRC B-17) a strain of bacteria that kills mosquito and black fly larvae while causing no harm to other insects, aquatic wildlife, or mammals.
- VCRC's Bti technology is equivalent to the WHO standard strain of bacteria in terms of its effectiveness.
- This is likely to provide India a boost in its fight against vector-borne illnesses such as Malaria, Filariasis, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika.
- Bti B-17 is designated as the Indian standard strain by the central insecticide board of India.
- Last month Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya handed over the Bti technology to Hindustan Insecticides Ltd for commercial production in India.
- Static Knowledge:
- ICMR Director general: Balram Bhargava
- ICMR headquarter: New Delhi
- ICMR was formed: in 1911
