The world needs to adopt new approaches to mosquito control in the light of the threat from the Zika virus, the World Health Organisation said yesterday.
Affected countries should increase the use of "old and new approaches" as the immediate line of defence, WHO said.
WHO says it will be backing extra field trials of genetically modified mosquitoes.
So far this has been tested in the Cayman Islands, achieving "significant reductions" in mosquito populations, WHO said.
WHO also highlights the idea of releasing male insects sterilised by low doses of radiation. The technique has been used successfully to control other insects regarded as agricultural pests.
A third technique involves the use of the Wolbachia bacteria, which prevent mosquito eggs hatching. WHO says one strain might be established in the mosquito population.
It says there will be large-scale field trials soon. It has already been tried in countries such as Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam to control Dengue fever.
A WHO statement said: "Given the magnitude of the Zika crisis, WHO encourages affected countries and their partners to boost the use of both old and new approaches to mosquito control as the most immediate line of defence."
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