Killer disease linked with smelly feet

Smelly feet may be a serious health hazard in parts of the world affected by malaria, new research suggests.

Mosquitoes that spread the disease are attracted to people whose feet are heavily covered with certain kinds of bacteria, scientists have discovered.

The bugs give off an odour that draw the insects in, thereby increasing the chances of being bitten.

The findings, published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE, could lead to new ways of preventing malaria and other insect-spread diseases by altering body odour.

Authors Dr Niels Verhulst, from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, and colleagues wrote: “Compounds that inhibit microbial production of human odour, or manipulation of the composition of the skin microbiota may reduce a person’s attractiveness to mosquitoes.”

The researchers sampled sweat from the soles of the feet of 48 mostly Caucasian male volunteers aged 20 to 64.