Unique research of ICMR: Now only mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya will protect against these diseases; know how

There is a huge increase in the number of mosquito-borne diseases during the rainy season. To avoid this, the Puducherry-based Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Vector Control Research Center (VCRC) have developed mosquitoes that are infected with a particular bacteria. These will prevent the spread of diseases like dengue and chikungunya.

In fact, scientists have infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread diseases like dengue, with two species of Wolbachia bacteria – W-Mel and W-AlbB. Wolbachia is a common bacteria found in 60 species of insects.

Bacteria control the virus in mosquitoes

ICMR-VCRC director Dr. Ashwani Kumar told news agency ANI that these bacteria settle on every cell of mosquitoes and make it their home. After this, it starts controlling viruses like dengue. Research has found that mosquitoes are not able to spread dengue when infected with the bacteria.

For this experiment, about 10,000 eggs of both species of Wolbachia bacteria were brought to India from Monash University in Australia. After getting approval from the government, these eggs were hatched and infected mosquitoes of Puducherry’s Aedes aegypti species.

Mosquitoes will produce larvae without the virus by mating

Dr. Kumar says that the newly developed mosquitoes can be replaced by mosquitoes carrying both dengue and chikungunya viruses. We will release female mosquitoes into local areas which will mate with male mosquitoes to produce larvae that do not contain any virus. Gradually all mosquitoes carrying the virus will be replaced.

Scientists say that approval from the government is yet to be obtained for practical use of this experiment. Along with this, the local authorities and the public will also have to cooperate in this campaign.