From Phys.org
January 25, 2023
Using machine learning techniques to predict the age of mosquitoes from different populations could reduce turnaround time for malaria research and improve surveillance programs, says a new study published in BMC Bioinformatics.
Knowledge of a mosquito’s age helps scientists to understand its potential to spread malaria, but the existing tools used for predicting this are costly, labor-intensive and often prone to human errors, the researchers say.
According to the World Health Organization, the African region accounted for about 95 percent of the 247 million cases of malaria globally in 2021, and scientists say the adoption of innovative tools to control mosquitoes and prevent the spread of malaria is key to eliminating the disease.