Better, cheaper DIY weapon against mosquitoes created

Washington, Jan 13 (ANI): Researchers at the Emory University have designed a Prokopack mosquito aspirator, which they claim is the cheapest and the most efficient way to monitor adult mosquitoes and the diseases carried by them.

The scientists have also spelt out the way by which the Prokopack can be made in the Journal of Medical Entomology.

Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, a post-doctoral in environmental studies, said: "This device has broad potential, not only for getting more accurate counts of mosquito populations, but for better understanding mosquito ecology.

"There is a great need for effective and affordable mosquito sampling methods. Use of the Prokopack can increase the coverage area, and the quality of the data received, especially for blood-fed mosquitoes. Ultimately, it can help us develop better health intervention strategies."

The Prokopack performed better than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Backpack Aspirator (CDC-BP) in both In both field and lab tests.

Not only does the Prokopack collect more mosquitoes than the CDC-BP it is also smaller, lighter, cheaper and easier to build.

Vazquez-Prokopec, an Argentine native, said: "I come from a developing country...I understand what it feels like to know that there is a health technology available, and to not have the money to access it."

"It's not like we woke up one day and said, 'Let's invent a mosquito aspirator...It grew out of our needs during field research," he added. (ANI)