How can infection with Aedes bacteria help control dengue fever?

In October 2020, releases began in the Venda Nova Regional District of Belo Horizonte, in December of the same year, Campo Grande, the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul, began to receive Wilpetos, and in July 2021, the Petrolina turnoff, in the interior of Pernambuco.

Persistent wallabies

Despite the difficulties encountered in routine monitoring and surveillance, such as transportation and infrastructure problems and lack of human resources, the Wallpitos have been persistent and have been able to establish their presence in the region, as a result of partnerships with municipalities and residents. The launches in these three municipalities ended in December 2023.

At the same time, Niterói was the first Brazilian municipality to cover its entire territory with the Wolbachia method, and the results of the impact on reducing dengue transmission became news on the country’s main television news programs: a success story. In Belo Horizonte, a randomized clinical trial is in development and results are expected to be published by 2025.

This study is carried out in partnership with UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais) and universities in the United States: Emory, Florida and Yale. Researchers evaluating this study expect a reduction in arbovirus cases in areas where Wallpitus has been released, compared to control areas. Today, we have more than 3.2 million Brazilians benefiting from the Wolbachia Method in the five city regions in which we operate.

But the Ministry of Health did not wait for the results of another study Adopting the Wolbachia method As one of the new technologies to control arboviruses in the country. In 2023, it announced an investment of R$30 million to implement Wolbitos in priority areas in 6 municipalities: Joinville, Foz do Iguaçu, Londrina, Presidente Prudente, Uberlandia and Natal.