Dr Veronique Paris, an entomologist, has been using her own blood as food for mosquitoes she breeds for research. The act, captured in a video, has gone viral on social media and sparked widespread reactions.

Maintaining mosquito populations in laboratories for research purposes is considered challenging. Typically, artificial feeding systems are used to supply blood to mosquitoes. However, these systems require time to set up and clean. To save time and provide a more natural feeding method, the scientist placed her hand inside a container filled with mosquitoes.

In the viral video, mosquitoes can be seen biting her hand and feeding on blood. After a short time, her hand appears red with multiple bite marks.

Speaking about the experience, Dr Paris said that mosquito bites initially cause itching, but the marks fade within about four hours after washing with cold water. She added that her body has gradually adapted to the process.

She also clarified that the mosquitoes used in the experiment are bred entirely in the laboratory and do not carry diseases such as dengue or malaria.

The video has received mixed reactions online. While some users expressed discomfort, saying it made them feel itchy just watching it, others responded with humour.