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IT Home reported on August 27 that Microsoft founder Bill Gates announced last week that computer vision technology has made significant progress in combating malaria, which kills more than 600,000 people each year.

In a blog post, Gates introduced VectorCam, an app developed by Dr. Soumya Acharya and her team at Johns Hopkins University, with support from the Gates Foundation and the Uganda Malaria Control Program, that can quickly identify mosquito species, which is key to controlling the spread of malaria.

According to IT Home, VectorCam can identify mosquitoes in seconds using smartphones and cheap lenses, distinguishing species, determining gender, and even assessing whether female mosquitoes have recently sucked blood or laid eggs. This technology is currently being tested in Uganda and has proven to be very useful in adjusting pesticide strategies and improving the speed and accuracy of mosquito monitoring.

VectorCam addresses the challenges faced by disease prevention workers in Uganda who are responsible for collecting, identifying, and reporting mosquito data. VectorCam simplifies the process by allowing local health workers to do this work, allowing disease prevention workers to focus on broader strategic work.

In addition to VectorCam, Gates also mentioned another emerging tool, HumBug, which can identify mosquito species based on the sound of their wings flapping. Although the technology is still in the early stages of development, HumBug can further enhance automatic and continuous mosquito monitoring.

Gates said that while identifying mosquito species is critical, new and better tools are needed to eradicate malaria, and he is optimistic that these innovations can bring the world closer to achieving that goal.