Australia invents breakthrough method to kill mosquitoes

With an efficiency that can kill more than 80% of the mosquito population, the mosquito-killing method using bacteria is being tested by Australian scientists, which promises to significantly reduce the incidence of dangerous infectious diseases. worldwide by mosquitoes.

Using a bacterium called Wolbachia , scientists from the Australian Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and their partners succeeded in sterilization and eradication of the majority of the population. midges in the test areas.

Mosquitoes are the causative agents of Zika, yellow fever, dengue fever, and chikungunya. (Photo: The Australian).

The results of a ground-breaking study published yesterday (October 5) show that scientists have successfully sterilized 3 million male mosquitoes and then released them into three areas in northern Queensland state of Queensland. Australia in 2018. After 20 weeks of testing, the number of midges in these areas has decreased by more than 80%.

Dr Brendan Trewin, a scientist involved in the study, said that if the program was conducted widely and repeatedly, the entire mosquito population could be completely eradicated.

According to Dr. Trewin, the technique of controlling the reproduction of midges with Wolbachia bacteria has been shown to be more effective than current methods of using radiation. To destroy the majority of mosquito populations will only need to use about 1,500 male mosquitoes that have been sterilized by bacteria per hectare instead of having to use up to 9,000 mosquitoes that have been sterilized by radiation. In addition, the new method of killing mosquitoes does not use chemicals, so it will not affect the insects.

Also according to Dr. Trewin, the method of sterilization of midges using bacteria can be adapted to kill the Asian Tiger mosquito . And eliminating both of these mosquitoes will contribute to a significant reduction in the incidence of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, dengue and yellow fever, and chikungunya.

The research results are currently being peer-reviewed at the American Academy of Sciences. And the team said that a partner in the project has talked with the Singapore government to implement a plan to kill mosquitoes in the country.