10k 'good mosquitoes' released in Brazil to beat Dengue fever

Brazilian researchers recently released around 10,000 "good mosquitoes" in Rio de Janeiro infected with bacteria that suppresses Dengue fever.

The project "Eliminate the dengue: Challenge Brazil" by state Brazilian laboratory Fiocruz was initiated under the hope that they would multiply, breed and become the majority of mosquitoes, thus reducing cases of the disease, the BBC reported.

The intercellular bacteria, Wolbachia, found in 60 percent of insects, could not be transmitted to humans and it acts like a vaccine for the mosquito which carries Dengue, Aedes Aegypti, stopping the Dengue virus multiplying in its body.

Ten thousands mosquitoes would be released each month for four months with the first release in Tubiacanga, in the north of Rio.

Wolbachia also has an effect on reproduction. If a contaminated male fertilizes the eggs of a female without the bacteria, these eggs do not turn into larvae. If the male and female are contaminated or if only a female has the bacteria, all future generations of mosquito would carry Wolbachia.

The plan was part of a programme also taking place in Australia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

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