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AI mosquito trap targets deadly dengue outbreak
Florida is facing its largest recorded dengue outbreak in decades, with hundreds of people infected by mosquitoes within the state. Researchers at the University of South Florida have developed an AI-powered trap that could help officials identify disease-carrying mosquito species more quickly and target control efforts.
The trap attracts mosquitoes with light or bait, draws them in with a fan and photographs them on a sticky pad; AI then identifies their species, sex and whether they have recently fed. In laboratory testing, it identified species with more than 98% accuracy. Florida had reported 524 locally acquired dengue cases by 31 October 2026, including 407 in Hillsborough County, where the local emergency was extended through 19 November.
In short
- Florida reported 524 locally acquired dengue cases by 31 October.
- Hillsborough County recorded 407 cases, its largest outbreak on record.
- A new AI trap identified mosquito species with over 98% laboratory accuracy.
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