Prime Highlight
- Brazil has opened a mosquito bio factory in Curitiba to breed Wolbachia-infected “good mosquitoes”that prevent the spread of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya without using insecticides.
- The Wolbachia bacteria are naturally transferred to new generations, making the approach cost-effective, long-lasting, and self-sustaining.
Key Facts
- The facility produces 100 million mosquito eggs per weekand employs 70 workers in a 3,500-square-meter area.
- Trials in Niterói showed a 69% drop in dengue cases, 56% decrease in chikungunya, and 37% decrease in Zika infections, highlighting the method’s effectiveness.
Background
Brazil has opened a mosquito bio factory in Curitiba that breeds mosquitoes that are infected by Wolbachia bacteria, known as “good” mosquitoes, that prevent the spread of harmful viruses. These “good mosquitoes” prevent dengue, Zika, and chikungunya without using insecticides. The project is supported by the Ministry of Health and international partners.
The factory produces 100 million eggs in a week, and these are distributed in regions where the mosquitoes are active. The Wolbachia bacteria are transferred naturally to the new generations of mosquitoes, minimizing the chance of disease in the long run.
Brazil has seen severe outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses. In 2024, dengue infected 6.5 million people and caused 6,297 deaths. Traditional methods like sprays were not enough to control the disease. The Wolbachia method has shown strong results. Trials in Niterói reported a 69% drop in dengue cases, a 56% decrease in chikungunya, and a 37% decrease in Zika infections.
The Curitiba facility employs 70 workers in a 3,500-square-meter area. Automated systems infect the mosquito eggs, which are then released in communities to gradually replace wild mosquitoes with Wolbachia carriers. Once established, these mosquitoes sustain themselves, making the method cost-effective and long-lasting.
According to experts, the Wolbachia approach is safe, effective, and self-sustainable and provides a significant benefit to population health. The initiative of Brazil is based on the idea that biotechnology can save the lives of millions of people due to tropical diseases, decrease the number of hospitalizations and deaths caused by dengue, Zika, and chikungunya every year.
