World’s Largest Biofactory Aims to Curb Dengue in Brazil
Wolbito do Brasil has launched the largest biofactory for breeding Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to combat dengue. Located in Curitiba, Brazil, it aims to protect 140 million people by producing 100 million mosquito eggs weekly. The innovative approach has already safeguarded millions and targets high-incidence dengue areas.
The world's largest biofactory for breeding mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria opened to fight dengue in Brazil, aiming to protect 140 million people. Located in Curitiba, it is a collaboration between the World Mosquito Program, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, and the Institute of Molecular Biology of Parana.
The Wolbito do Brasil plant, opened on July 19 and exclusively supported by Brazil's health ministry, has a capacity for producing 100 million mosquito eggs weekly. Chief executive Luciano Moreira claims it will protect around 7 million people in Brazil every six months, targeting the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya.
Dengue, spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, caused 6,297 deaths in Brazil last year, the worst on record. Wolbachia bacteria stops mosquitoes from transmitting viruses to humans, a method that has protected over 5 million Brazilians. The plant uses cars to release infected mosquitoes in high dengue-incidence areas.
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- dengue
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- Wolbachia
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- Brazil
- disease
- curitiba
- WHO
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