Health Ministry releases Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in Keramat to curb dengue

The Health Ministry has released mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia micro-organism at dengue hot spots in AU2 in Keramat here beginning Tuesday.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the new method in preventing the spread of dengue was being conducted by the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) to replace the population of wild Aedes mosquitoes.

"A total of 16,000 male and female Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes had been released at 300 dengue hot spots in Keramat AU2 areas," he said in a statement.

According to the statement, various anti-dengue activities involving residents were also being intensified in Section 7, Shah Alam in Selangor before embarking with the deployment of the Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in the areas.

Subramaniam also said the deployment of such mosquitoes, monitored by IMR, would take place on a weekly basis until 60 per cent population of the wild Aedes mosquitoes in AU2, Keramat be replaced with the Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes.

He said studies had shown that the Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes could prevent the spread of the dengue virus among humans.

The Wolbachia technique, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is the latest method being applied by several countries such as Australia, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.

For a more detailed and latest information on the method, members of the public can log on to http://www.imr.gov.my/wolbachia -- Bernama