Brazil Bolsters Dengue Fight with Second Major Mosquito Factory
SÃO PAULO – Brazil has considerably expanded its capacity to combat dengue fever with the inauguration of a new mosquito factory, poised to become the world’s largest.The facility will produce Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia, a bacteria that reduces dengue transmission, marking a major step in the nation’s public health strategy.
Until recently,Wolito do Brasil held the title of the world’s largest mosquito factory,with a production capacity of 100 million eggs per week. The new facility’s capacity has not been disclosed,but its launch underscores Brazil’s commitment to innovative approaches in tackling the widespread disease,which affects millions annually and strains the healthcare system. The initiative builds on over a decade of work by Fiocruz, which has led efforts in municipalities with high dengue incidence.
The Wolbachia method, originally developed in Australia, works by introducing mosquitoes carrying the bacteria into the wild. These mosquitoes then breed with wild populations, gradually reducing the ability of Aedes aegypti to transmit the dengue virus. Oxitec, the company behind the technology, is currently awaiting approval from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) to begin production at the new facility.
A recent partnership between Wolito do Brasil and Google will leverage adapted vans equipped with technology for mosquito release, replacing traditional manual methods. This collaboration, as reported by Digital Look, aims to improve the efficiency and reach of mosquito deployment.
“We are here as ministry saying that it is indeed one of our priorities, the municipalities and the autonomous regulatory body. We have all the interest to find a solution so that [the technology] be available,” stated Dr.Fabiano Pimenta,Deputy Secretary of the Secretariat of Health and Environment Surveillance,at the opening event. The technology has demonstrated over 75% reduction in dengue transmission (Image: Disclosure/Oxitec).
