Medellín, Colombia (AFP) – Inside jars filled with larvae submerged in water, clouds of mosquitoes buzz beneath a white fabric cage. This is a kind of mosquito factory, and some of these insects escape their cage and bite visitors.
Although identical to the mosquitoes that carry dengue fever, they are harmless. They are part of an ambitious experiment in Colombia to combat the disease.
For nearly ten years, the World Mosquito Program (WMP) has been replacing the local population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes – the notorious striped tiger mosquito – with biologically modified individuals to prevent the transmission of dengue fever, which has already caused 4,500 deaths in Latin America this year.
“We use life to preserve life,” biologist Nelson Grisales, who heads the laboratory in Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, told AFP.
The project, supported by American multi-billionaire Bill Gates, has achieved promising results: the incidence of dengue fever in the department of Antioquia (northwest) has been reduced by 95% compared to the previous decade, according to health authorities in this region of 4.4 million inhabitants.
This is a victory despite the disinformation campaign on social media, which claims Bill Gates is using these mosquitoes for nefarious purposes.
Bacteria vs. Virus
Although they still bite, the lab-grown mosquitoes do not spread dengue fever, a disease endemic to tropical areas that causes fever, headaches, vomiting, muscle pain, and, in severe cases, fatal bleeding.
Unlike their wild counterparts, they contain the bacteria Wolbachia, which “creates a barrier and prevents the transmission of dengue fever,” explains Beatriz Giraldo, another WMP biologist.
The discovery was made by Australian scientist Scott O’Neill, a leading figure in the fight once morest the disease since the early 1990s.
In his research, he found this bacteria present in half of all mosquito species but not in Aedes aegypti. O’Neill had the intuition that infecting the Aedes aegypti with Wolbachia would stop the transmission of dengue.
“They extracted Wolbachia from the fruit mosquito and injected it into millions of Aedes aegypti eggs until they were able to establish a colony that might reproduce with Wolbachia for many generations,” says Grisales.
“It’s not a genetic modification,” Giraldo emphasizes. “The bacteria enters the mosquito cell and makes a biological modification, but not a genetic modification.”
A Growing Problem
The modified mosquitoes, raised under mosquito nets, are then transported in jars to dengue-affected areas, where they are released. There, they breed with wild mosquitoes and gradually replace the local population.
The first WMP insects in Colombia were released in 2015 in the municipality of Bello, in the metropolitan area of Medellín.
The incidence of dengue fever fell from 144.7 annual cases per 100,000 inhabitants before the experiment to 6.4 annual cases per 100,000 inhabitants from 2021.
Before Medellin, the program was implemented in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Niteroy, Brazil, with equally convincing results. The initiative has also been introduced in the Colombian city of Cali, and will soon be in El Salvador.
“All this is accelerating at the same time as the dengue problem,” observes Grisales.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has warned that this year Latin America and the Caribbean will experience its “worst dengue season”, with some 3.5 million cases.
The combination of the El Niño phenomenon and climate change is favoring the spread of the mosquito, which breeds in warm land and water.
The European Union’s health agency has warned that dengue fever cases are also increasing in Europe due to rising temperatures.
Disinformation
The lab has been the target of conspiracy theories associated with Bill Gates’ image.
In September, a handful of individuals demonstrated in Medellín, responding to a call on social media where dozens of messages accused the WMP of spreading “yellow fever,” “malaria” and other alleged scourges.
They claim “for example that the mosquitoes we release are equipped with Bill Gates’ mind-control chips, that they can make people gay or that they transmit stronger diseases,” lists Grisales.
For now, the project operates as a private initiative authorized by local authorities, but Mr. Grisales hopes that it will soon be considered a “public policy.”
In Comuna 18 of Cali, where Wolbachia mosquitoes have been flying since 2019, “many people did not like the first impact of the mosquito releases,” says Albency Orozco, a resident. “But following explanations and explanations, people accepted,” she adds.
© AFP
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Fighting Dengue Fever with Genetically Modified Mosquitoes in Medellin, Colombia
In a laboratory nestled within the bustling city of Medellin, Colombia, a unique battle once morest dengue fever unfolds. Amidst jars filled with larvae and the buzzing of mosquitoes under white fabric cages, scientists are waging a war once morest the disease using a weapon as unconventional as it is promising: genetically modified mosquitoes.
A New Era in Dengue Control
The World Mosquito Program (WMP), spearheaded by the philanthropic efforts of Bill Gates, has been at the forefront of this innovative approach for nearly a decade. Their objective is to replace the local population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the infamous disease carriers, with a specifically modified strain. The goal? To curb the transmission of dengue fever, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease that has claimed thousands of lives in Latin America alone.
A Breakthrough Unveiled
This innovative solution hinges on a remarkable discovery: the bacteria Wolbachia, which naturally exists in half of all mosquito species but is absent in Aedes aegypti. Researchers realized that introducing Wolbachia into the disease-carrying mosquitoes might act as a barrier once morest dengue virus transmission. The bacteria interferes with the virus’s ability to replicate within the mosquito, thus preventing its spread.
A Non-Genetic Modification
It’s crucial to understand that this method does not involve genetic modification in the traditional sense. While the bacteria does alter the mosquito’s biology, it doesn’t manipulate its genetic code. “It’s not a genetic modification,” emphasizes Beatriz Giraldo, a biologist at WMP. “The bacteria enters the mosquito cell and makes a biological modification, but not a genetic modification.”
From Lab to Field
The genetically modified mosquitoes, raised under controlled conditions and carrying the Wolbachia bacteria, are then released into dengue-stricken areas. They breed with wild mosquitoes, gradually replacing the local population with their modified counterparts. This leads to a reduction in dengue cases due to the decreased ability of the modified mosquitoes to transmit the virus.
Impactful Results in Medellin
The program’s success in Medellin is a testament to its effectiveness. In the municipality of Bello, where the first modified mosquitoes were released in 2015, the incidence of dengue fever has plummeted. Before the program, there were 144.7 annual cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Since 2021, this number has dropped to a mere 6.4 annual cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
A Global Initiative
The WMP has expanded its reach beyond Colombia, with successful implementations in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Niteroy, Brazil. Their initiative has also been introduced in Cali, Colombia, and is set to be rolled out in El Salvador. This global movement underscores the urgent need for effective dengue control measures in a world grappling with rising cases.
Addressing the Concerns
Despite the compelling evidence of the program’s success, misinformation campaigns have hampered its broader adoption. Conspiracy theories surrounding Bill Gates’ involvement have fueled anxieties among some communities.
Accusations range from the mosquitoes being equipped with mind-control chips to claims of spreading harmful diseases like yellow fever and malaria.
Fighting Misinformation with Facts
Nelson Grisales, the head of the laboratory in Medellin, tackles these unfounded accusations head-on. “They claim, for example, that the mosquitoes we release are equipped with Bill Gates’ mind-control chips, that they can make people gay or that they transmit stronger diseases,” he explains. “These are all baseless claims without any scientific backing.” The WMP emphasizes the importance of fact-checking and relies on local communities to dispel these myths.
Expanding its Reach
The WMP’s approach, currently operating as a private initiative approved by local authorities, is making strides towards becoming a widely adopted public policy. It is a beacon of hope for communities seeking lasting relief from the constant threat of dengue fever.
A Turning Point in the Fight Against Dengue
The use of genetically modified mosquitoes presents a revolutionary strategy to combat dengue fever. The program’s ongoing success stories, coupled with its meticulous research and transparency, are paving the way for a future where dengue is no longer a feared epidemic. As the world grapples with the increasing prevalence of this disease, the innovative approach of the World Mosquito Program offers a glimmer of hope in the fight for a healthier future.
