PRACTICAL MOSQUITO TRAP TO CONTROL MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASES

PRACTICAL MOSQUITO TRAP TO CONTROL MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASES

By: Asoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Fadhil Md Din and Hesam Kamyab Water Alliance (IPASA), Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

In collaboration with: Professor Iwao Kenzo Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan

Industrial Partners:

Industrial Collaborator:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The World Health Organization (WHO) cited that over 45 percent of the world population lives in the risky area afflicted with mosquito-borne diseases. Pathogens like Dengue, Malaria, West Nile, Chikungunya has eventually emerged as world's alternative killer. Prevention methods that currently enforced as mitigation act however, still far from desired. Despite billions of ringgit spent, the epidemic continues frightening us all. Therefore, the best way to fight against this virus is by highly understanding the characteristic of its transmission mediator, the mosquito. In general, mosquito is more attracted to dark color that bright. Therefore, this mosquito trap is designed with black color as the main feature. By having black grid as attractant, mosquitoes approaching the trap will be electrocuted by a high voltage from power supply through the grid. Neither using expensive CO2 emission as attractant, nor DEET as repellent, huge amount of mosquitoes has been captured by this innovation while sparing many other insects. As a conclusion, it’s not only efficient; it also saves all being in this world.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Many efforts have been made to overcome the mosquito-borne diseases, but the outcome is still at alarming levels. In Malaysia, a commonly practiced method is through the destruction of mosquito breeding areas, use mosquito nets, as well as mosquito repellent mosquito coil, aerosol sprays, and fumigation. However, despite the efforts invested, the splendor of this epidemic is still scary all. According to medical experts and scientists around the world, among the contributing factors to this is the absence of vaccines to fight this problem. This is due to the ability of viruses (pathogens) carried by intermediaries (mosquito) to mutilated and fight vaccine produced. Currently, the best method was shown to reduce the risk of transmission of this disease is through the use of mosquito traps and mosquito repellents. However, both these methods have adverse side effects on the environment and health of mankind. Methods such as fogging and spraying aerosol negatively affect human health. The main chemicals contained in the aerosol spray DEET can cause skin irritation problems, digestive problems, nausea, shortness of breath, and so on. Additionally, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DEET is toxic to birds, fish and other aquatic animals. In terms of consumption, almost all mosquito traps use ultraviolet (UV) radiation as a puller also affects the ecosystem in which this tool not only as attract mosquito, but all the insects are also attracted towards UV rays. This is because insects such as flies, butterflies, and bees are agents for promoting the process of pollination. This pollination will enhance the agricultural yield. Taken an example in the U.S., most of the orchard have hive to increase the yield. For the trap by using carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), the method is found to be quite effective in attracting the attention of mosquitoes, but the issue of availability and price of CO2 bomb in many countries is expensive and this making it as not the best choice. With this, we can see that in the efforts to tackle diseases that mosquitoes brings, there are many factors to be taken into account despite the effectiveness such as the impact on human health, the environment, other life forms, and also economic factors. Recognizing this, a study was conducted by the Department of the Environment, the Faculty of Civil Engineering Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to produce a practical

mosquito traps innovation in overcoming the disease bring by mosquito. This trap’s idea is to take into account the attractiveness of mosquito other than the frequency of mosquitoes produced by female mosquitoes, and carbon dioxide production. Through the findings, mosquito tends to reach out to the black clothing rather than bright clothing. Moreover, it is often found in areas that are moist and less exposure. Therefore, black color has been chosen as a puller in the innovation of the mosquito trap. Horizontal Fan Trap is designed to control mosquito-borne diseases. The intention of this innovation is to preserve our environment and ecosystem while keeping us save working through our days. Most mosquito trap and repellant does not meet all these demands. DEET contain aerosol, fogging, and CO2 emitting trap has effect to our respiratory system, health, and green house. The usage of UV light otherwise afflicts many other insect especially flies, bees, and moths whereby, little do we know that these insects have major contribution to human and environmental needs like honey-production and pollination.

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention is mainly to develop a practical mosquito trap for the control of Dengue Fever, Chiqun Gunya, Malaria, West Nile fever and other diseases caused by harmful mosquitoes. On the other hand, Horizontal Trap also designed specifically to prevail the traps for the control those diseases as the contribution to the world based on the collaboration of government-academic-industry (New Academia).

PRODUCT FEATURES Horizontal Fan Trap has been built using steel grid bi-polar black polycarbonate sheets connected to fan power (12V, 1A and 12W) with the overall size of 400x400mm to be a magnet for mosquitoes. The surface of the steel grid is connected to a circuit unit which is capable of producing high enough voltage (100V-240V) to kill mosquitoes. During operation, the surface of the black grid will draw attention to approaching mosquitoes. When the mosquito touches the surface of the grid, it will receive electrical shock until death. To ensure the devices operate efficiently, especially in terms of electricity consumption, it is also equipped with a sensor that controls the unit "ON" and "OFF" operation when the sensor is touched the water, it will send a signal to the circuit to stop operations until the surface of the sensor is to be dry again. This method is very suitable to be used in countries such as Malaysia, based on the rainfall rate factors that occur throughout the year.

Figure 1: Horizontal Fan Trap Features

In determining the effectiveness of tools, competency tests were conducted at UTM recreational forest. Selection is based on the observation of the mosquito density.

During first day of test for several minutes, this technique has proved its capability of capturing better amount of mosquitoes than the previous machines. Therefore, the slope was attached to a wood frame and run for further trial horizontally at Innovation Commercialization Centre, UTM dumping area as well as at nursery.

Figure 2 & 3: Horizontal Fan Trap at Site Experiment