Manila: A simple device developed by local scientists promises to cut down the number of dengue cases in the country and, eventually, deaths from the dreaded tropical disease.
Called the Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal (OL) trap system, the gadget helps reduce the number of female Aedes aegypti, the dengue virus-carrying mosquito, by killing its eggs trapped in a wooden strip.
The novel yet inexpensive dengue mosquito control device is made from tin cans usually disposed of as trash. It is painted black and fitted with a strip of wooden fibre board smothered with a natural mosquito attractant. The board then serves as an attractive nest for the mosquito.
Claiming lives
The dengue haemorrhagic fever is a tropical disease that afflicts tens of thousands of Filipinos every year. In 2009 it claimed the lives of 369 people while in 2010 there were more than 500 fatalities from this condition.
To highlight the introduction of the Mosquito OL trap system the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) kicked off the national roll-out of the device in Balyuan Convention Centre, Tacloban City on Saturday.
"This activity starts the ball rolling for our technology initiatives in curbing dengue," DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said.
Some 2,800 kits were distributed by DOST to identified household participants in Leyte, Central Philippines during the launch. Those given the device will use if for a period of six months.
DOST plans to distribute some 200,000 mosquito OL Trap kits across the country, particularly in areas where there were reports of dengue cases.
DOST also allocated 2,800 kits for each of the country's 17 regions, including the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
