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Can 'sweaty billboard' help fight Zika virus? | Can 'sweaty billboard' help fight Zika virus? |
(4 days later) | |
A billboard that attracts and kills mosquitoes has been designed by marketing agencies in Brazil. | A billboard that attracts and kills mosquitoes has been designed by marketing agencies in Brazil. |
The board releases a mixture of a lactic acid solution that mimics the smell of human sweat and carbon dioxide, which is in human breath. | The board releases a mixture of a lactic acid solution that mimics the smell of human sweat and carbon dioxide, which is in human breath. |
Its inventors have released the blueprint for free and are encouraging people around the world to make them. | Its inventors have released the blueprint for free and are encouraging people around the world to make them. |
However, one expert warned it could attract insects to areas where there are many humans. | However, one expert warned it could attract insects to areas where there are many humans. |
The two companies behind the Mosquito Killer Board, Posterscope and NBS, believe it could help in the fight against the Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes. | The two companies behind the Mosquito Killer Board, Posterscope and NBS, believe it could help in the fight against the Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes. |
The insects are drawn to the aroma from the board from a distance of up to 2.5km away, the board's inventors say. | The insects are drawn to the aroma from the board from a distance of up to 2.5km away, the board's inventors say. |
They are then trapped inside it and can be seen in the message it bears, which explains its purpose. | They are then trapped inside it and can be seen in the message it bears, which explains its purpose. |
So far, they have installed two of the Mosquito Killer Billboards in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. | So far, they have installed two of the Mosquito Killer Billboards in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. |
The firms will not be selling the advertising space inside the billboard. | The firms will not be selling the advertising space inside the billboard. |
"It's impressive how many mosquitoes you can trap and how many lives you can save with this idea," Otto Frossard from Posterscope told the BBC. | "It's impressive how many mosquitoes you can trap and how many lives you can save with this idea," Otto Frossard from Posterscope told the BBC. |
Mr Frossard added that the board would cost "a few thousand Reals" (1,000 Brazilian Reals is $280/£194) to make. | |
"I think anything that can be done to reduce the prevalence of the mosquito is a good thing," said Dr Chris Jackson, a pest control expert at the University of Southampton. | "I think anything that can be done to reduce the prevalence of the mosquito is a good thing," said Dr Chris Jackson, a pest control expert at the University of Southampton. |
"Particularly devices like this that attract and kill females that feed on blood, as it is only female mosquitoes that bite," he explained. | "Particularly devices like this that attract and kill females that feed on blood, as it is only female mosquitoes that bite," he explained. |
Dr Jackson said that, while the science behind the billboard was effective, putting them in public places and attracting human attention - as well as insects - could be a problem. | Dr Jackson said that, while the science behind the billboard was effective, putting them in public places and attracting human attention - as well as insects - could be a problem. |
"I do have a few concerns," he told the BBC. | "I do have a few concerns," he told the BBC. |
"Maybe if it was not in a high-density place, where people are sitting perhaps with exposed legs... otherwise, you're pulling in hungry mosquitoes and providing them with exposed human flesh." | "Maybe if it was not in a high-density place, where people are sitting perhaps with exposed legs... otherwise, you're pulling in hungry mosquitoes and providing them with exposed human flesh." |
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