Rio’s Sister City Niteroi Utilizing Wolbachia Technique to Combat Dengue Outbreak
Niteroi, the sister city of Rio de Janeiro, has managed to keep its dengue fever cases significantly lower than its neighboring city by implementing the Wolbachia technique. While Rio has faced a public health emergency due to the outbreak of dengue fever, Niteroi has reported only 403 suspected cases so far this year, with a low incidence rate of 69 confirmed cases per 100,000 people. In contrast, Rio has an incidence rate of 700 per 100,000 people, with more than 42,000 reported cases.
Impact of Wolbachia Technique Against Dengue Virus
The Wolbachia technique, a project undertaken by the nonprofit World Mosquito Program, involves breeding mosquitoes that carry the Wolbachia bacteria, which helps interrupt the transmission of the dengue virus. Since the pilot program was launched in Niteroi in 2015, cases of dengue fever have progressively decreased. The success of this technique has been demonstrated in various countries, including Brazil.
Mayor Axel Grael sought help after a dengue outbreak in 2012, leading to a partnership with the state-run Fiocruz Institute, the World Mosquito Program, and the Health Ministry. This collaboration has effectively combated dengue outbreaks in Niteroi, bringing about significantly lower cases and a better overall situation in the city.
Challenges and Futuristic Efforts
Despite the success of the Wolbachia technique, challenges in implementing this method still exist. The access to favelas, which are often informally built, poses challenges in tackling mosquito breeding grounds. Additionally, security concerns present another obstacle, particularly in areas controlled by drug traffickers or militias.
Nevertheless, numerous municipalities have expressed interest in adopting the Wolbachia technique, prompting the Health Ministry to plan the construction of a large factory to breed Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes. This factory aims to produce 100 million eggs per week, significantly increasing the scale of the initiative and the capacity to combat dengue fever in Brazil.
Overall, Niteroi’s proactive approach and investment in prevention and mosquito control have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Wolbachia technique in combatting the dengue outbreak. This initiative provides hope for other regions and serves as an example of successful public health management.
