Hong Kong in a bother over bugs

From Andrew Brown
CNN Correspondent

This year 40 cases of the mosquito-born disease Dengue Fever have been reported in Hong Kong

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VIDEO CNN's Andrew Brown says Hong Kong's bug-bitten affluent, fearing dengue fever, are snapping up a U.S.-made mosquito trap (November 6) PLAY VIDEO FACT BOX - Dengue fever is a severe, flu-like illness - Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a potentially deadly complication of the illness - Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans through the bites of infective female mosquitoes - The virus circulates in the blood of infected humans for two to seven days (Source: World Health Organization)

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Hong Kong's tycoons are bold and extravagant, but these days getting a little irritated. They still have their yachts and fancy cars, but they are bothered by bugs -- mosquitoes to be precise.

A U.S. technology, that has just been introduced in Asia to catch the insects, is being snapped up by Hong Kong's ultra wealthy customers.

George Lau is distributing the product, which is called Mosquito Magnet. It works by releasing carbon dioxide, or CO2 -- the same gas human beings produce when they exhale.

The theory is mosquitoes love CO2 and that's why they swarm around us, attracted by all the air humans breathe out. Once they hone in on the CO2 from the Mosquito Magnet though, they get trapped inside the machine and eventually die.

"They will just flock here into a death trap," says Lau.

Al fresco aid

Combating mosquitoes recently became an urgent task in Hong Kong.

This year 40 cases of the mosquito-born disease Dengue Fever have been reported in Hong Kong. The outbreak has not claimed any lives but Dengue is considered a serious problem.

The Peak Lookout restaurant in one of the region's most exclusive neighborhoods has introduced a Mosquitoe Magnet in the garden to protect the patrons. And of course, the machine is a business opportunity because of its appeal to al fresco diners.

"Once they knew, the reservations started pouring in," says the restaurant's William Lam.

The Mosquito Magnet's distributors won't reveal sales figures, but say they have shipped hundreds of units all over Asia.

The units are all able to generate carbon dioxide with heat and moisture levels similar to those produced by humans. Although, it will take a lot more than a hundred machines to keep the bugs at bay.

In fact a long-term mosquito solution may be years away, so don't hold your breath. Of course if you do, the mosquitoes probably won't bite as much.

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