This app uses computer vision to identify malaria-carrying mosquitoes

The app’s developers received funding from the Gates Foundation as well as Makerere University and the Ugandan government. In a blog post, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, called VectorCam an “enlightening innovation,” and said that it was already proving useful in eradicating malaria-carrying mosquitoes in certain parts of Uganda where the app is being tested.

“In many places, mosquito surveillance still involves filling out paper forms by hand, which then have to be transported and manually entered into computer systems. By the time the data reaches decision-makers, it may be weeks or months out of date. With VectorCam, the data is digitised and aggregated, giving health officials up-to-date information,” Gates said.

By scanning pictures of mosquitoes, the app provides additional information such as the sex of the mosquito and whether it has recently fed on blood or has developed eggs. VectorCam could also potentially identify mosquito species that carry other vector-borne diseases such as dengue and Zika, as per the blog post.

Another mosquito surveillance app mentioned by Bill Gates is HumBug, which looks to identify mosquito species by the sound of their wing beats that is captured by the built-in microphone of a smartphone. “HumBug is still in the early stages, but if it proves out, it could allow for even more automated and continuous monitoring,” Gates said.