Brazil releases mosquitoes resistant to dengue virus

Brazilian researchers in Rio de Janeiro have released thousands of mosquitoes carrying dengue-suppressing bacteria.

Scientists hope that the number of mosquitoes will multiply, thereby reducing cases. According to BBC, the program also takes place in Australia, Vietnam and Indonesia. The type of intracellular bacteria, Wolbachia bacteria , used in this program cannot be transmitted to humans.

Mosquitoes suck blood in their hands - (Photo: Getty Images)

Researcher Luciano Moreira of the Fiocruz Institute, head of the project in Brazil, said the program started in 2012. "Every week, our groups go to four selected neighborhoods in Rio. We catch mosquitoes with Special traps and analysis. The first priority is to be transparent and provide the right information to households'.

Tens of thousands of mosquitoes will be released every month for four months. The first mosquito release was conducted in Tubiacanga, north of Rio. The studies evaluated the effectiveness of the campaign expected to take place in 2016.

Wolbachia live in 60% of insects. It acts as a vaccine for dengue mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, to help prevent viruses from multiplying in its body.

Wolbachia also has an effect on reproduction. If a male mosquito carries a fertilized bacterium for a female that does not carry the bacteria, the eggs do not turn into larvae.

If both males and females carry Wolbachia or only female mosquitoes carry bacteria, the next batch of mosquitoes will carry the bacteria.

The results of Aedes and Wolbachia mosquitoes will predominate without the need for researchers to constantly add mosquitoes carrying bacteria. In Australia this process occurs on average within 10 weeks.

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