Mosquito-proof fabrics are being tested by the US military in an effort to make uniforms that protect against malaria and other diseases
Mosquitoes may be no match for fabrics woven with insect repellant-infused fibres
Johner Images/Alamy
Future US military uniforms could grant protection against disease-carrying mosquitoes by having insect repellent embedded within the fabric itself. Testing by military researchers has shown that specially manufactured nylon fibres can provide slow release of repellents for at least three days, more than the 8-to-12-hour protection provided by spraying common insect repellents such as DEET or picaridin on clothing and skin.
Throughout much of human history, insect-borne disease has often inflicted more casualties on armies than combat – and …