Brazil releases mosquitoes that carry dengue bacteria to the environment

On August 29, Brazilian scientists began the first round of release of millions of mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia that prevent mosquitoes from spreading dengue virus to humans.

Expert project director Luciano Moreiro from Rio De Janeiro's Fiocruz Research Institute said after being released into the environment, midges carrying Wolbachi will reproduce and transmit Wolbachi bacteria that blockade or reduce the ability to transmit viruses causing dengue fever, Zika virus and chikungunya.

The project was developed by Australian scientists and has been prepared by Brazilian scientists since last year.

Australian scientists injected Wolbachi bacteria into midges.

Under the plan, experts at the Fiocruz Research Institute will release 1.6 million mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia per week and then increase to 3 million per week.

Wolbachia is an intracellular bacterium, living in insect cells and transmitted from one generation to the next through insect eggs.

Wolbachia is found naturally in more than 60% of insects living around humans, including those that normally bite humans.

However, it does not exist in mosquitoes - the main "culprit" that transmits dengue.

Dengue fever causes fever, rash, vomiting and even potentially fatal complications if the patient is not given timely medical assistance.

Meanwhile, Zika virus is thought to cause serious malformations in newborns.