Reduce dengue fever with bacteria

Currently, only the southern provinces have over 20,000 people suffering from dengue fever (dengue fever), which is 1.5 times higher than the same period in 2005. In this context, many people hope for a research project. four years starting this September: reducing the life cycle of mosquitoes that cause disease by . bacteria . Deputy Director of Preventive Medicine Department (Ministry of Health) - Dr. Vu Sinh Nam told Tuoi Tre :

- This study was funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (founded by billionaire American Bill Gates - PV) through the University of Queensland (Australia). The main purpose is to find a new biological agent, a species of bacteria called Wolbachia to reduce dengue. This species of bacteria lives parasites on mosquitoes, shortening the lifespan of mosquitoes.

The average lifespan of a mosquito lasts one month. From the 12th day of age, once every 3-4 days, mosquito bites. This is the period when mosquitoes can spread disease (like dengue). But if there are bacteria above parasites, mosquitoes live only 12 days and it will not have a chance to spread the disease to humans.

* What is the main research direction of the project, sir?

- The project will mainly study the gene, genetics and impact of Wolbachia. For example, if this baby Wolbachia is in Vietnam, does it live parasites on mosquitoes, is it possible to apply in Vietnam . Of course this is just research, with initial ideas.

One thing we also need to find out is that in the North, especially in cities, only mosquitoes cause dengue Ae. aegypti (so people call this mosquito mosquito . city). In the SXH outbreak in 1987, only this type of mosquito was found.

But now they are not found in many places, instead of Ae mosquitoes. albopictus has a lower chance of spreading the disease. Therefore, the study will also find the cause of the problem, especially if Wolbachia parasites on mosquitoes and forms such phenomenon? If research is successful, we will apply in Vietnam from 2010.

* If Wolbachia is found to parasitize on some sick mosquitoes, how to replicate it, thereby reducing the life cycle of mosquitoes, sir?

- Wolbachia live in nature and also naturally parasitize on mosquitoes. In the case of finding, we will zone for natural release, thereby letting it parasitize naturally into mosquitoes. If both male and female mosquitoes are infected with Wolbachia, they will produce baby mosquitoes with a very short life cycle.

* Before starting this project in Vietnam, research has been conducted in Australia and some other countries. How effective, sir?

- In Australia, scientists tracked the laboratory's Wolbachia parasite in fruit flies. The results show that the fruit fly life cycle is also very short . In this study, not only Vietnam but also Australian, Thai and Japanese scientists conducted similar studies in their countries.

* Last question, sir. Are we helpless with the dengue epidemic in the south? What is the reason why the number of people with dengue in the southern provinces is always high and many people die each year?

- I know a lot of people want to ask this question: Why is dengue in the South persistent? If the 1998 season, half of the people with dengue live in the North, Central and Central Highlands, now more than 90% of people are concentrated in the South. People with northern dengue fever have reduced dramatically, leaving only a few dozen people infected each year.

The difficulty is that the Southern climate is year-round suitable for mosquito breeding, the mosquito population in Vietnam is still very large because the projects are small-scale prevention. Not to mention that people with dengue are immune only to that type of virus, and are still capable of contracting dengue due to the remaining virus types.

Recently in the southern provinces, many people have dengue second time with very severe symptoms. We call it 'reinforcing effect'. Another problem is that dengue prevention must be in every family and this work can only be effective if families voluntarily participate.

LAN ANH