Thai Invention To Net Mosquitoes

[webfact]

INNOVATION

Nanotechnology to net mosquitoes

By Jutharat Thipnampa

The Nation

Science and Technology Minister Virachai Virameteekul

The National Nanotechnology Centre (Nanotec) yesterday unveiled its latest invention, a nanofibre net that can kill malariacarrying mosquitoes within six minutes of their contact with it.

Nanotec director Sirireuk Songsiriwilai said the net fibre was coated with a herballike synthetic substance - whose durability to stick on the net was enhanced by nanotechnology.

This made its mosquitokilling power last longer than other fibrecoated mosquito nets, whose efficiency faded and vanished after three washes. The synthetic substance affected the mosquitoes' nervous system, causing them to fly slow and, in the case of malariacarrying mosquitoes, drop dead in six minutes, he said. The survival time varied among types of mosquito.

The research development, made jointly between the textile and mosquito net exporting industries, included the coating of substances like chrysanthemum and marigold onto cotton fibre and the new fibre creation to increase its effectiveness fivefold.

Science and Technology Minister Virachai Virameteekul said this technology to coat textiles with mosquitokilling substances could also be applied to soldiers' uniforms to prevent malaria, dengue fever and other mosquitoborne diseases. Such coated textiles would be more expensive, but the efficiency made it worthwhile, he said.

It would take another year before the technology was adopted industrially, pending further testing and formula development, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-08-27

[Payboy]

Thats the easy part. The difficult part would be to convince mosquitos to play dead after 6 minutes.

[Pib]

Sounds promising. Mosquitoes can get ready bad in some parts of Thailand and the sickness/disease spread by the mosquitoes probably has the greatest impact on the young and old. You would be amazed at the number of small children in the hospitals who got sick supposedly from mosquito bites....I've seen this first hand at two hospitals over the past few months. Hopefully the technology is indeed a major advancement and would be low cost.

Edited August 27, 2010 by Pib

[Familyonthemove]

Inventing a better mosquito net would be a big benefit for all tropical countries .... sounds like some good, practical and very relevant research. Something for the 'What has been invented in Thailand' thread?

[infernalman7]

Thats the easy part. The difficult part would be to convince mosquitos to play dead after 6 minutes.

Oh dear, judgemental.

[HAL9000]

Put your faith in Star Wars:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_laser

[irwinfc]

two other challenges they need to face is distribution of the nets and convincing the people to actually sleep under them. otherwise, all the nanotech stuff would again be outsmarted by mosquitoes and various parasites. without addressing those issues, any attempt to measure these nanonets' efficacy would simply lead to "giga-disappointments".

[MyphuketLife]

[qoute]Science and Technology Minister Virachai Virameteekul said this technology to coat textiles with mosquitokilling substances could also be applied to soldiers' uniforms to prevent malaria, dengue fever and other mosquitoborne diseases. Such coated textiles would be more expensive, but the efficiency made it worthwhile, he said.[/qoute]

I fail to see how applying it to uniforms really prevents the spread of malaria or other mosquito borne diseases... Unless Thai soldiers have uniforms that cover 100% of the skin.....

So it flies in to bite you, in the course of biting you it touches your clothes (you still get malaria or dengue), sure it dies 6 minutes later, but the soldier still got bit....

[afarang]

Inventing a better mosquito net would be a big benefit for all tropical countries .... sounds like some good, practical and very relevant research. Something for the 'What has been invented in Thailand' thread?

Not just tropical countries any more. West Nile fever is causing deaths and severe illness, in of all places -Russia,hardly a tropical paradise

[Tracechain]

Mark me down for two, please.

[wolf5370]

Lets hope the government sees the value in mossie nets made using this process and starts a campagn to erradicate malaria and (more so here) dengue with free sleeping nets and plenty of tv education.

Looked at the Laser jkolak posted about. (sse post #6) - it states that photonic walls can be made as cheaply as $50 (US I presume), from readily available parts can be set to only kill female mossies and ones of particular types (identified by wing beats which is species/gender unique), and low powered. It would not take much investment to put such walls aaout in places of hgh mossis volume, known breeding grounds and even schools etc. I am also sure many of us wouold buy commercial products that we could put around doors and windows in our homes/kennels too.

[asiawatcher]

Thats the easy part. The difficult part would be to convince mosquitos to play dead after 6 minutes.

If it can knock of a mossie in 6 minutes what if a baby or child licks or puts the net in their mouth?

[loong]

Lets hope the government sees the value in mossie nets made using this process and starts a campagn to erradicate malaria and (more so here) dengue with free sleeping nets and plenty of tv education.

<snip>

As far as I understand the mosquito that carries dengue fever bite during the day, so nets alone are unlikely to have any effect .

Treated clothing could be a good idea for dengue though.

[wolf5370]

Thats the easy part. The difficult part would be to convince mosquitos to play dead after 6 minutes.

If it can knock of a mossie in 6 minutes what if a baby or child licks or puts the net in their mouth?

I guess that's why they want another year of testing.

[marc11864]

I believe there's iodine for that.

Thats the easy part. The difficult part would be to convince mosquitos to play dead after 6 minutes.

If it can knock of a mossie in 6 minutes what if a baby or child licks or puts the net in their mouth?

[Travel2003]

two other challenges they need to face is distribution of the nets and convincing the people to actually sleep under them. otherwise, all the nanotech stuff would again be outsmarted by mosquitoes and various parasites. without addressing those issues, any attempt to measure these nanonets' efficacy would simply lead to "giga-disappointments".

Been upcountry recently.

A lot of people sleep outside (due to heat), especially in the farms with no electricity(no fans), under roofs (raining), with mozzie nets covering their beds.

[sezze]

two other challenges they need to face is distribution of the nets and convincing the people to actually sleep under them. otherwise, all the nanotech stuff would again be outsmarted by mosquitoes and various parasites. without addressing those issues, any attempt to measure these nanonets' efficacy would simply lead to "giga-disappointments".

Been upcountry recently.

A lot of people sleep outside (due to heat), especially in the farms with no electricity(no fans), under roofs (raining), with mozzie nets covering their beds.

Outside and or inside is practically the same for most people upcountry ( farmersvillages ) . By far the most people use the nets every single day . They do know malaria and dengue are dangerous and there are plenty of mosquitoes around .

The new technology , fantastic but we are not even halfway . Normal people will not be able to buy this stuff because it is way beyond their financial means . Those people are in need of it the most , since sleeping outside or inside is practically the same ( no windows or doors etc ) .

[tartempion]

two other challenges they need to face is distribution of the nets and convincing the people to actually sleep under them. otherwise, all the nanotech stuff would again be outsmarted by mosquitoes and various parasites. without addressing those issues, any attempt to measure these nanonets' efficacy would simply lead to "giga-disappointments".

Newbie ever been to Thailand?

Mosquito nets available in any village shop and all village people have the usual nightly ritual of setting nets up and sleep under them in groups. Been there, done that

BTW, I live in a Thai village.

[ianh68]

If it can knock of a mossie in 6 minutes what if a baby or child licks or puts the net in their mouth?

That's a good point. I am concerned about the health implications of this idea.

[Travel2003]

two other challenges they need to face is distribution of the nets and convincing the people to actually sleep under them. otherwise, all the nanotech stuff would again be outsmarted by mosquitoes and various parasites. without addressing those issues, any attempt to measure these nanonets' efficacy would simply lead to "giga-disappointments".

Been upcountry recently.

A lot of people sleep outside (due to heat), especially in the farms with no electricity(no fans), under roofs (raining), with mozzie nets covering their beds.

Outside and or inside is practically the same for most people upcountry ( farmersvillages ) . By far the most people use the nets every single day . They do know malaria and dengue are dangerous and there are plenty of mosquitoes around .

The new technology , fantastic but we are not even halfway . Normal people will not be able to buy this stuff because it is way beyond their financial means . Those people are in need of it the most , since sleeping outside or inside is practically the same ( no windows or doors etc ) .

You are absolutely correct about that.

They do indeed use it both indoors and outdoors.