Unique 'sweaty' sign traps Zika-carrying mosquitoes

A “sweating” billboard in Brazil is being touted as a great idea to fight the Zika virus as it can trap and kill mosquitoes that carry the dangerous virus.

A device inside the panel will emit lactic acid - a component of sweat - and carbon dioxide similar to human breath to "entice" mosquitoes.

At night, the mosquito killer board is also equipped with fluorescent lights to increase the attention of prey. Mosquitoes trapped in the board then die of dehydration.

The mosquito control sign is placed at a height of 1.2 m to match the flying range of this insect. This sign can attract insects from a distance of 2.4 km.

The inventors of the mosquito-killing sign – two advertising companies, NBS and Posterscope – did not register any intellectual property rights, and even published the design of the mosquito-killing sign for free, thus encouraging other countries to produce this device.

A Posterscope representative told the BBC that each sign costs several thousand reais to produce (1,000 reais is equivalent to $412).

The Zika virus, transmitted primarily by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, is now the “prime suspect” for causing microcephaly in children. To date, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika. The Zika virus has now appeared in more than 43 countries, including Brazil.

As the 2016 Olympics draw closer, Brazil, the host nation, has taken a number of measures to combat mosquitoes around Rio de Janeiro to ensure the safety of the thousands of tourists expected to flock to the city. Two mosquito-killing signs have been installed on the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

Chris Jackson, an insect control expert at the University of Southampton, said the mosquito-killing sign was a good idea but had the potential to attract mosquitoes to urban areas.

According to News