The beginning of the project expansion phase "Eliminate Dengue: Brazilian Challenge" was the subject of a meeting between the team led by researcher Luciano Moreira and the area managers of Fiotec. The event, held yesterday (01/10), in the meeting rooms of the supporting foundation, aimed to present the activities planned for the project until the end of 2018.

Luciano Moreira, general coordinator of the project in Brazil, presented the results obtained in the pilot phase, after the release of Aedes aegypti with Wolbachia in Tubiacanga in Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, and Jurujuba in Niteroi. According to the researcher, to date, the project outcome in these areas is considered satisfactory and very positive, since about 80% of the population ofAedes aegypti has the bacterium that reduces the capacity of the mosquito to transmit dengue, zika and chikungunya.

The goal of the project is to replace gradually the entire field population of Aedes aegypti with mosquitoes with the bacteria. This happens by cross-breedingAedes aegypti mosquitoes, in that the bacterium is naturally passed from female to offspring that are born with Wolbachia. This process ensures the self-sustainability of the method.

Mosquitoes with Wolbachia in new regions

The project expansion phase, scheduled for February of this year, plans to release Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with the bacterium in four other districts of Niterói: Charitas, Preventório, São Francisco and Cachoeira. Luciano highlighted in his presentation the importance of dialogue between the project team and representatives of local government. The researcher noted that a minimum percentage of "positive" mosquitoes is required so that Wolbachia be established naturally among all the local insect population. For this, the support of the municipalities, especially the population, is essential. "The commitment to communities is a very important part of the project. People need to agree to the release of the mosquitoes in the regions where they live", he added.

The participation of the population will be carefully monitored during the next phase of the project. Luciano presented all regulatory approvals required for the study, but said that the mosquitoes will be released only with the approval of at least 70% of the population of each of the regions selected for the project.

In the future, the project will expand to various regions of Rio de Janeiro, with the ambitious goal to benefiting 2.5 million people by the end of 2018. "The breeding on the expansion region of Manguinhos Campus has the capacity to generate more Aedes aegypti eggs with Wolbachia than necessary to achieve the goals set for the next 24 months", said Luciano.

Visit "Eliminate Dengue: Brazilian Challenge" website and know better the project.