Brazil-born ★ PosterScope: Outdoor Sign That Repels Mosquitoes for Zika Prevention

Zika virus, an infectious disease spreading primarily in Central and South America. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency. In Brazil, which has the highest number of infections, the government is scrambling to implement countermeasures, including mobilizing the military to eradicate mosquitoes that transmit the virus.

In Rio de Janeiro, with the Olympics approaching, "mosquito-killing outdoor billboards" have been installed, attracting attention.
The billboards chemically replicate the scent of carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and lactic acid found in sweat, releasing it to attract mosquitoes within a 4 km radius. Mosquitoes drawn to the fluorescent light enter the billboard and become trapped. Hundreds of mosquitoes are reportedly eliminated daily.

The project was developed by NBC and Posterscope, both subsidiaries of Dentsu Inc. The technology behind these billboards is publicly available online, free to download and use.