As part of the 2021 Campaign Against Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya, by the State Health Department (SES) of Mato Grosso do Sul together with the Municipal Health Department (Sesau), the Wolbachia Method, from the WMP, started on Tuesday (10/26) the third phase of the symbolic release of mosquitoes in Campo Grande (MS). In this phase, 15 neighborhoods will be served by the initiative.

According to the manager of the WMP/Fiocruz in Brazil, Gabriel Sylvestre, in an interview for the website of the State Government of Mato Grosso do Sul, the project is yielding positive balances for the city. “After the release, we expect the wolbito to settle, reproduce and have offspring with Wolbachia. Therefore, we conclude that there are neighborhoods with excellent results, with a 60% rate. That means we have sustainability at field, a factor responsible for the success of the project. The engagement of the population in relation to the project was very positive too.”

It is expected from 11 to 12 million wolbitos to be released, between February and March 2022. During the first phases of the program, almost 20 million mosquitoes were released in more than 30 neighborhoods of the city. Gabriel explains they are not released all at once; they are a result from five months of work. “Once a week the health agents release between 100 and 150 mosquitoes for 16 to 20 weeks. Each project’s phase comprises seven thousand release points”, he told.

The symbolic release had the participation of the Municipal Health Secretary, José Mauro Filho, the SES Deputy Secretary, Crhistinne Maymone, the Military Advisor at the SES, Colonel Marcello Fraiha, besides the technical teams of the SES and SESAU.

The Wolbachia Method
The technique consists in releasing Aedes aegypti with Wolbachia for them to reproduce with the local Aedes aegypti and establish a new population of these mosquitoes, all with Wolbachia.

Wolbachia is an intracellular microorganism present in 60% of the insects of nature, but which was not present in Aedes aegypti. When it is present in these mosquitoes, it prevents the dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses from developing inside the mosquito, contributing to the reduction of these diseases.

Once the mosquitoes with Wolbachia are released in the environment, they reproduce with wild mosquitoes and help to create a new generation of mosquitoes with Wolbachia.

Over time, the percentage of mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia increases until it remains high without the need for new releases.

Source: State Government of Mato Grosso do Sul.