Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reported a 100 percent increase in total number of deaths due to dengue fever during the first half of 2015 compared to 2014.
The death toll is expected to reach more than 200 by the end of 2016.
In response to the growing urgency in Malaysia for sustainable and effective means to battle the spike in dengue case, researcher the the University of Malaya have developed a breakthrough kind of street lamp which is designed to trap dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
The specialized outdoor lighting system consists of an LED street lamp which emits low leve;s of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide).
What’s most interesting about this development is that releases a “human-like” scent in order to attract potentially harmful mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
Though this innovation is still currently on a trial basis in University of Malaya’s Kuala Lumpur campus, there are high hopes that this will catch on and spread to other countries.
Lead researcher Dr. Chong Wen Tong told The Guardian that the Eco-Greenergy lamps work by “tricking these mosquitoes with simulated human odors to lure them.”
“The lamp emits small amounts of CO2, produced by combining ultraviolet light with titanium dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes,” he said.
A diagram of the Eco-Greenergy Lighting System
Mosquitoes lured by these human-scented lamps would enter through the ‘capture windows’ on the upper part and then a suction fan sucks them into the capture net in the lower part. Once in the capture net, they won’t be able to get away.
Most street lamps are controlled by underground wiring, but the Eco-Greenergy lighthing system can also be powered by wind and solar energy.
This not only saves up on electricity, it also makes these special street lamps perfect for areas prone to typhoons and flooding.
“The battery, wiring system and controller are placed near the top portion of the lamp and can still function even when the water level is 4 meters, depending on how high the post is. A sensor can be placed inside the hollow pole to sense the flood water level and transmit a warning signal to search and rescue centers should it exceed a certain height,” Dr. Chong told the Malaysian Insider.
Though it emits CO2, Dr. Chong reassures the public that since the emissions are low, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
READ: Surviving Dengue: how to protect your kids from mosquitoes
Even before it is officially launched in the market, this innovation has already won awards such as the 2014 Entrepreneurship Award from the Youth Business Project.
Up to 2 billion US dollars are spent annually on battling the disease. This doesn’t even include chemical fogging which is the most common form of preventive measures in most Asian countries.
Just recently, however Dengvaxia, the world’s first vaccine against dengue was officially launched in the Philippines.
READ: World’s first dengue vaccine Launched in the Philippines
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