The release of mosquitoes with bacteria that prevent dengue should be done in December – Capital

Halted in the face of the new coronavirus pandemic, the process of releasing the first Aedes Aegypty mosquitoes with the Wolbachia bacterium has been resumed and the insects are expected to be released early next month. The presence of the bacterium prevents the development of diseases transmitted by the animal.

In all, eight thousand mosquito containers will be released per week, for four months, in seven neighborhoods in the first phase of the program: Guanandi, Aero Rancho, Batistão, Centenário, Coophavila II, Tijuca and Lageado.

Hence, the locations covered will be Midwest, Vila Jacy, Jockey Club, Moreninhas, Pioneiros, Parati, Alves Pereira, Piratininga, Taquarussu, Jardim América and Los Angeles.

Mosquitoes with Wolbachia are produced in Campo Grande, at the biofactory which is in the final stages of installation in the city.

“We have begun to involve the population more intensely. It is important that everyone knows what we are doing and that they approve the release of mosquitoes with Wolbachia, from then on their release begins ”, explains project coordinator, Gabriel Sylvestre.

Bacterium – Wolbachia is an intracellular bacterium present in 60% of natural insects, but which was not present in Aedes aegypti. When present in this mosquito, it prevents the dengue virus, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever from developing inside the mosquito, contributing to the reduction of these diseases. There is no genetic modification in either the mosquito or the bacteria.

The Wolbachia method was developed in Australia by the World Mosquito Program, an international non-profit initiative that works to combat mosquito-borne diseases and currently operates in 12 countries in more than 20 cities.

In Brazil, the method is implemented by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation with funding from the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with local governments. After very promising results of reducing these arboviruses in Brazil and around the world, the WMP began expanding nationwide in 2019.

The WMP is currently being implemented in the cities of Campo Grande (MS), Petrolina (PE) and Belo Horizonte (MG) with funding from the Ministry of Health and in partnership with local administrations and several other local partners.