Scientists in Burkina Faso are attempting to wipe out three species of malaria-carrying mosquitos by genetically modifying them, French-language broadcaster RFI reports.

The team of Burkinabé researchers plan to sterilise male mosquitoes then release them back into the open, thereby slowing the rate of reproduction until they eventually die out.

They say that if a sterile male mates with a wild female, the eggs produced won't fully develop and will therefore not be viable.

Target Malaria researchers first plan to release test groups of sterilised males into parts of western Burkina Faso to observe their behaviour. But they can't do this until they have permission from the national biosecurity agency.