Repelling Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with electric fields using insulated conductor wires.

ICWs can be used to generate EFs that partially repel host-seeking mosquitoes, which will reduce human-mosquito contact. While future studies need to assess if (i) increased repellency can be achieved, and (ii) a repellency of 50-60% is sufficient to impact disease transmission, it is encouraging that EF repellency using ICWs is higher compared to that of some spatial repellent technologies currently in development. This technology can be used in the housing improvement toolkit (i.e. preventing mosquito entry through eaves, windows, and doors). Moreover, the use of cheap, over-the-counter ICWs will mean that the technology is more accessible worldwide, and easier to manufacture and implement locally.