ICMR-VCRC develops special female mosquitoes to control Dengue, Chikungunya

Tags: Science and Technology

ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre has developed special female mosquitoes to control Dengue and Chikungunya.

• Important facts

• These female mosquitoes will mate with males and produce larvae that do not contain the virus.

• Two colonies of Aedes aegypti have been developed by ICMR-VCRC, Puducherry. who are infected with wMel and wAlbB Wolbachia strains to reduce the spread of viral disease.

• These are called Aedes aegypti (Pud).

• After getting permission from the government, these female mosquitoes will be released outside so that they will form larvae that are free from the viruses of these diseases.

• Mosquito-borne diseases

• Malaria - This disease is caused by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito.

• Malaria fever is caused by a virus called Plasmodium vivax.

• Dengue - Dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), dengue is the most widely spread disease by mosquitoes worldwide.

• Chikungunya - Chikungunya, like dengue, is caused by the bite of the Aedes mosquito.

• Yellow Fever - This disease is caused by the bite of a human from the Aedes mosquito, especially Aedes aegypti.

• Yellow fever is caused by flavivirus.