Smartphones are being used to combat the dreaded mosquito in Italy, with a new app that tracks the location of the blood-sucking pests.
The free app, called ZanzaMapp, gathers information from the public in order to highlight hot spots of mosquito activity in real time. The mosquito heat map will allow people to avoid areas with high concentrations of bugs, and help authorities to better direct pest control efforts, the ZanzaMapp website claims. It also enables users to upload photos so that experts can determine which species have been found and where.
The app’s creator, expectant father Cesare Bianchi from Rome’s Sapienza University, says he was driven by a lack of information on how to deal with new threats such as the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which doctors believe causes severe birth defects.
The app includes tips for making places less attractive to the insects, such as removing stagnant water.
WHO warning
The World Health Organisation warned that European countries may be at risk of a Zika outbreak, with the widespread tiger mosquito capable of transmitting the virus. WHO is advising these countries to strengthen their national capacities and prioritize activities preventing a large Zika outbreak.
Travelers going to these countries are advised to prevent getting bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent and wear long-sleeved clothing.
