[Photo/newtimes.co.rw] 

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A new research has revealed that synthetic insecticides used by several countries in East Africa, including Kenya, in treating mosquito nets are unsafe.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) said it is seeking proper ways to eliminate the insecticides.

The research seen by Daily Nation, says nets treated by insecticides known as pyrethroids cause cancer and asthma to young children.

They are also very harmful to the environment since they do not break down easily, says the research titled ''New BioMedical Uses of Kenyan Grown Pyrethrum''.

Kemri head of Natural Product Research and Drug Development Programme Dr Festus Tolo, said they were

 looking for ways of coming up with natural extract from pyrethrum, so as to make safe insecticides.

''The institute is carrying out a study that involves usage of natural extracts from African flower of pyrethrum through nanotechnology to come up with safe insecticides for treating nets,'' reported the daily, April 20, 2017.A total of 3.2 billion people risk being affected by Malaria worldwide accoording to the World Health Organization.Kenya's Ministry of Health has been advocating for the use of treated Mosquito nets, to prevent the disease.