Say Goodbye to Mosquitoes with MELT – The Ultimate Mosquito Eco-friendly Light Trap
Effective protection against mosquitoes that transmit diseases
About Us
MELT Trap is an innovative eco-friendly mosquito light trap that requires no external power supply and uses 100% natural attractants, causing no environmental pollution. The MELT project is currently in progress at the Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
The Problem
Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes present an urgent and significant global health threat. Illnesses like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika impact millions of people annually. The lack of effective vaccines, drugs, and antiviral therapies, coupled with the spread of mosquito resistance to insecticides worldwide, makes it challenging to control outbreaks of these diseases. This underscores the critical need for innovative solutions like MELT.
Mitigating human-mosquito interactions is currently the most effective way to prevent these diseases, but a more efficient approach to mosquito surveillance is needed. Existing mosquito monitoring approaches are time-consuming and laborious, leading to delayed responses to emerging threats.
In particular, the high unit cost of mosquito traps and the high user input required for maintenance (e.g., battery recharging or power supply) can make it challenging to secure suitable coverage and implement an effective trap-based surveillance programme.
Our Solution
The MELT project is dedicated to providing a sustainable and innovative approach to public health entomological surveillance by developing a cost-effective, standalone, and energy-efficient eco-friendly mosquito trap. MELT is designed with a compact footprint and represents a low-cost insecticide-free anti-mosquito alternative for household environments.
Our proprietary technology features a unique, low-power design that leverages sustainable materials, making it a scalable, affordable and environmentally responsible approach to mosquito surveillance.
By offering a sustainable and innovative approach, MELT addresses the limitations of traditional mosquito surveillance methods and can effectively support risk management of mosquitoes that transmit diseases.
Key Benefits
Compact, Standalone Design
Easily integrates into both indoor and outdoor settings without requiring external power sources.
Cost-Effective Coverage
Affordable for widespread distribution, providing effective mosquito control at both national and local levels.
Continuous Operation
Delivers uninterrupted mosquito collection without battery replacements or external power supplies.
100% Natural Attractants
Utilises safe, non-toxic substances to attract mosquitoes.
No Environmental Pollution
Operates without emitting harmful substances, ensuring an eco-friendly approach to mosquito monitoring.
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Sponsors and Collaborators
Meet the Team
Dr Fabricio Martins (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)
PROJECT LEADER
fabricio.martins@lstmed.ac.uk
Dr David Weetman (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
david.weetman@lstmed.ac.uk
Dr Lee Haines (University of Notre Dame)
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
lhaines@nd.edu
Dr Charles Winiarski (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)
TTO
charles.winiarski@lstmed.ac.uk
Joe Cooke (Lyva labs)
BUSINESS ADVISOR
joe.cooke@lyvalabs.com
Dr Lara Gómez (UniPiaget, Cape Verde)
SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
lfg@cv.unipiaget.org
Dr Paulo Martins (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco)
SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
paulo_geo@yahoo.com.br
Karolyne Alves (Unifacisa)
SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
ana.karolyne@maisunifacisa.com.br
Luciene Jennings
PROGRAMME ADMINISTRATOR
luciene.salasjennings@lstmed.ac.uk