Problem: Vector surveillance currently depends on manual processes for sample collection and requires entomologists for analysis and reporting. The time required for this, and the shortage of entomologists makes timely vector control activities difficult to implement. Widely used vector control practices like fogging and anti-larvae operations are only partially effective as these methods do not consider the specific treatment requirements for different species of mosquitoes owing to the lack of species-specific data from surveillance.
Solution: Moskeet is a surveillance tool that can identify concentrations of different species of infected mosquitoes in real time and enable effective vector surveillance and control activities for Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis and Zika Virus. The device uses AI to decipher mosquito species from their wing beat frequencies determine mosquito concentrations and transmits data to central surveillance centres to enable real-time vector control activities. The use of AI in identifying mosquito species, and hotspots helps overcome slow manual data collection and the shortage of epidemiologists to analyse & interpret data.
Impact: With an accuracy of more than 85% in identifying mosquito species, TrakItNow has the potential to make a significant impact in the control of mosquito borne diseases. It can gather and interpret data 20 times faster and 3 times more accurately at 15% of the cost of current manual methods. The availability of data in real time can be used to predict and forecast mosquito-borne disease outbreaks, overcome the shortage of entomologists and and enable timely vector control activities.
“Mosquito-borne diseases infect 40 million people every year, and 95% of population in India resides in Malaria endemic areas. Moskeet platform collects real-time data and provides analytics for effective control of mosquito-populations, disease outbreak risk analysis and pesticide effectiveness. IHF support helps to expand the solution capabilities to major medically relevant mosquito species in India covering diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filaria and Japanese Encephalitis.”
– Satish Cherukumalli, Co-Founder & CEO, TrakitNow
