Pune's EcoBio Group tackles Dengue and Malaria with Eco BioTraps | Fusion - WeRIndia

Pune startup EcoBio Group, through its innovative Eco BioTraps, aims to combat vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya.

These traps, resembling buckets or pots, require users to add water and place them in mosquito-infested areas.

Over the following days, an attractant within the device mimics mosquito breeding grounds, attracting female mosquitoes to lay their eggs.

Once laid, an approved government and WHO insecticide, called IGR, prevents the emergence of adult mosquitoes, effectively disrupting the breeding cycle.

Mosquito-related issues have grown worldwide. WHO estimates that approximately half the global population faces dengue vulnerability.

In the WHO’s 2021 World Malaria Report, data shows an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627,000 malaria-related deaths in 2020.

These numbers surged compared to 2019, with disruptions during the pandemic contributing to the increase.

India accounted for 1.7 per cent of global malaria cases. Also, 1.2 per cent of global malaria deaths occur in the country.

EcoBio Group’s CEO, Prasad Phadke, emphasizes the urgent need to address dengue and malaria, despite advancements in space missions and artificial intelligence.

The Eco BioTrap stands out as a user-friendly and environmentally safe solution, particularly exemplified by its successful implementation in Dharavi. Furthermore, it operates without electricity.

Phadke highlights the science behind Eco BioTraps, constructed from recycled corrugated boxes, similar to those used by e-commerce companies.

These boxes, unlike traditional egg trays, can retain water for four to six weeks.

Inside each trap, a sachet containing attractants and insecticides initiates the process when water is added.

The attractants lure female mosquitoes to lay eggs within the Eco BioTrap exclusively, preventing egg maturation into adult mosquitoes.

These traps are biodegradable and emit no harmful fumes, capable of securing an area of 400 sq ft.

Mosquitoes now plague regions from the Himalayan foothills in Nepal to picturesque locations in France.

Peru faces a record number of dengue cases, and experts warn that this menace will intensify with climate change.

Phadke emphasizes EcoBio Group’s innovative approach, centered on prioritizing human well-being to combat this growing problem.

Image Credit: Ecobiotraps Website Screenshot

Image Reference: https://www.ecobiotraps.com/