Several years ago, British entomologist Steve Lindsay landed at an American airport and was immediately struck by all the furry creatures walking around the baggage claim area.
“I was astounded to see sniffer dogs, looking for fruits and vegetables,” says Lindsay, who studies malaria at Durham University in the U.K.
Recent studies have found that people carrying malaria release a signature scent. “So I thought, ‘Well, if a dog can smell fruits and vegetables in luggage, could they smell malaria in a person?’ ” Lindsay says.
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