Keywords: Asia

Mark–release–recapture study of irradiated male Aedes albopictus under stressful field conditions

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Qingdeng Feng, Ming Li, Jeremy Bouyer, et al.,  Pest Management Science,  2026.
The sterile insect technique (SIT) suppresses mosquito populations by releasing sterile males. Its success mainly depends on the performance of sterile males. Mark–Release–Recapture (MRR) experiments are used to evaluate male performance in the field, yet most previous ...

Dengue Suppression by Male Wolbachia-Infected Mosquitoes

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Jue Tao Lim, Ph.D., Chee-Seng Chong, Ph.D., Chia-Chen Chang, Ph.D., et al.,  New England Journal of Medicine,  2026.
Wild-type female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that mate with male A. aegypti mosquitoes that have been infected with the wAlbB strain of Wolbachia pipientis bacteria produce nonviable offspring owing to cytoplasmic incompatibility. Repeated releases of wolbachia-infected males ...

Wolbachia mosquito release cuts dengue cases 50–80 percent

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Mohamad Al As, Zaf Seraj,  New Straits Times,  2026.
The release of Wolbachia-infected Aedes mosquitoes has led to a 50 to 80 per cent drop in dengue cases in several outbreak areas in Selangor, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said public health studies conducted during the early phase of ...

Genetic Biocontrol Strategy Considerations for Mosquito Control in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories

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Adam E. Vorsino, Tim Harvey-Samuel, Limb K. Hapairai, et al.,  Current Opinion in Insect Science,  2026.
Mosquito-borne diseases pose an existential threat to the health, economies, and unique ecosystems of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). The remoteness of these islands, combined with the presence of highly competent mosquito vectors, complicates disease ...

Rethinking the future of mosquito control

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Kabirul Bashar, Dr Zonaed Siddiki. Dr Zonaed Siddiki, et al.,  Dhaka Tribune,  2025.
Bangladesh is once again in the grip of a severe dengue and chikungunya crisis in 2025. Hospitals are overwhelmed, fever wards are full, and doctors are working tirelessly. Families live in fear of mosquito bites, while daily news reports chronicle rising infections and deaths. ...

Wolbachia Infection in Iranian Malaria Vectors: Prevalence and Biocontrol Implications

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Shahin Saeedi, Fateh Karimian, Seyed Hassan Moosa-Kazemi, et al.,  Tropical Medicine & International health,  2025.
Wolbachia-based vector control is an emerging tool in malaria prevention research. This study evaluates Wolbachia infection in Iranian mosquitoes, focusing on seven known malaria vectors. Mosquitoes were collected from nine provinces of Iran (2016–2019), ...

Application of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1895) in Sri Lanka: Dose optimization, mating competitiveness and release ratios

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Harishchandra J, Abeyewickreme W, Premaratne R, Hapugoda M,  PLoS One,  20. 2025.
Sri Lanka has experienced severe dengue epidemics in recent years, despite the extensive vector control measures taken. Therefore, it is necessary to find sustainable vector control strategies against dengue. Novel vector control tools need to be tested for the feasibility of ...

Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP), and acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) for mosquito-borne diseases control through sterile mosquito release in Bangkok, Thailand

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Kittayapong P, Ninphanomchai S, Jalichandra N, Sringernyuang L, Sherer P, Meemon N,  PLoS Negl Trop Dis,  19. 2025.
A questionnaire survey was conducted in seven communities in Bangkok, Thailand to obtain baseline information on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to mosquito-borne diseases, i.e., dengue, chikungunya and Zika, including mosquito vectors and how to control them. ...

Integrated vector management with the sterile insect technique component for the suppression of Aedes aegypti in an urban setting in Indonesia

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Sasmita HI, Neoh K-B, Ernawan B, Indarwatmi M, Nasution IA, Fitrianto N, et al.,  PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases,  2025.
The sterile insect technique (SIT) involves subjecting laboratory-bred male mosquitoes to radiation, typically gamma rays, X-rays, or electrons, that render them sterile. These sterile male mosquitoes are then released into the field to mate with wild female mosquitoes. From that ...

Mosquito Miracle: Breakthrough Brings Hope for Bangladesh in Dengue Fight

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Staff Correspondent,  Digi Bangla Tech,  2025.
A major scientific breakthrough is offering new hope for Bangladesh in its battle against dengue. An international team of researchers has successfully developed a strain of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria, which are capable of adapting to the local ...

Impact of sterile Aedes aegypti males releases on vector dynamics: insights from Malaysian field trials

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Nazni, W.A., Teoh, GN., Nuradila, M.A. et al.,  Infectious Diseases of Poverty,  14. 2025.
The Sterile insect technique (SIT) has been successfully used in agricultural pest control, leading to interest in its application for public health, particularly in controlling Aedes mosquitoes in the USA, Italy, Cuba, and Greece. Malaysia has conducted a small-scale SIT pilot ...

Adjacent spillover efficacy of Wolbachia for control of dengue: emulation of a cluster randomised target trial

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Lim, J.T., Mailepessov, D., Chong, C.S. et al.,  BMC Medicine,  23. 2025.
Matings between male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with wAlbB strain of Wolbachia and wild-type females yield non-viable eggs, thereby suppressing Ae. aegypti abundance in the field. We evaluated the spillover efficacy of releasing wAlbB-infected Ae. aegypti male ...

Progress made for blackchin tilapia control in Thailand

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The Fish Site,  2025.
Despite tilapia being one of the most widely farmed fish in the global aquaculture industry, invasive populations of the blackchin tilapia - a cichlid native to West Africa - have been devastating the productivity of aquaculture operations throughout Thailand. However, a ...

Suppression of Aedes aegypti may not affect sympatric Aedes albopictus populations: findings from two years of entomological surveillance in Singapore

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Wong, W.J., Tan, C.H., Verkaik, M.G. et al.,  Scientific Reports,  15:2253. 2025.
Globally, multiple trials have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of novel tools, such as the sterile and incompatible insect techniques, in suppressing Aedes aegypti populations. However, there is concern that Aedes albopictus, another arbovirus-competent vector, may ...

Explained | The problem with India’s new guidelines on genetically modified insects

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S. Naik,  The Hindu,  2023.
India’s bioeconomy contributes 2.6% to the GDP. In April 2023, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) released its ‘Bioeconomy Report 2022’ report, envisioning this contribution to be closer to 5% by 2030. This ambitious leap – of $220 billion in eight years – will ...

Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Research on Genetically Engineer Insects, 2023

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Government of India,  Government of India,  2023.
Department of Biotechnology, Government of India is delighted to release "Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for Research on Genetically Engineered Insects, 2023". This document is pertinent for enabling potential of genetic engineering in insect research to ...

Gene Drives and Vector-Borne Diseases: A Comparative Perspective Using Malaria as a Case Study

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S. Todi,  The Takshashila Institution,  2023.
Gene drives are an emerging technological application to reduce the prevalence of vector-borne diseases, crop pests, and non-native invasive species. This method for vector control is currently at the research stage, with parallel community engagement programmes being carried out ...

Impact of randomised wmel Wolbachia deployments on notified dengue cases and insecticide fogging for dengue control in Yogyakarta City

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C. Indriani, S. K. Tanamas, U. Khasanah, M. R. Ansari, Rubangi, W. Tantowijoyo, R. A. Ahmad, S. M. Dufault, N. P. Jewell, A. Utarini, C. P. Simmons and K. L. Anders,  Glob Health Action,  16:2166650. 2023.
BACKGROUND: Releases of Wolbachia (wMel)-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes significantly reduced the incidence of virologically confirmed dengue in a previous cluster randomised trial in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia. Following the trial, wMel releases were extended to the untreated ...

Sensitivity of wMel and wAlbB Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti Puducherry (Indian) strains to heat stress during larval development

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K. Gunasekaran, C. Sadanandane, D. Panneer, A. Kumar, M. Rahi, S. Dinesh, B. Vijayakumar, M. Krishnaraja, S. K. Subbarao and P. Jambulingam,  Parasites and Vectors,  15:221. 2022.
BACKGROUND: ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India, developed two colonies of Aedes aegypti infected with wMel and wAlbB Wolbacia strains called Ae. aegypti (Pud) lines for dengue control. The sensitivity of wMel and wAlbB strains in Ae. aegypti (Pud) lines to ...

Elimination of a closed population of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, through releases of self-limiting male mosquitoes

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P. B. Patil, S. K. Dasgupta, K. Gorman, A. Pickl-Herk, M. Puinean, A. McKemey, B. Char, U. B. Zehr and S. R. Barwale,  PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases,  16:e0010315. 2022.
Author summary Aedes aegypti L. species is the primary vector responsible for transmission of the dengue virus worldwide including chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika virus. The experiment presented in the manuscript represents a study undertaken to demonstrate suppression of the ...

Safety Assessment of Novel Genetic Technologies for Vector Control: National and International Perspectives

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V. Ahuja,  Genetically Modified and other Innovative Vector Control Technologies,  2021.
Novel genetic technologies provide an alternative approach for control of vectors particularly those carrying deadly pathogens. Genetic control technologies aim to either suppress target populations or modify the vector by introducing a heritable factor that reduces or blocks ...

Genetic Control in Historical Perspective: The Legacy of India’s Genetic Control of Mosquitoes Unit

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R. Wilbanks,  Hastings Center Report,  51:S11-S18. 2021.
Abstract In the early 1970s, a World Health Organization-initiated and United States-funded project released lab-reared mosquitoes outside New Delhi in the first large-scale field trials of the genetic control of mosquitoes. Despite partnering with the Indian Council of Medical ...

Towards Integrated Management of Dengue in Mumbai

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P. N. Paradkar, P. R. Sahasrabudhe, M. Ghag Sawant, S. Mukherjee and K. R. Blasdell,  Viruses,  13. 2021.
With increasing urbanisation, the dengue disease burden is on the rise in India, especially in large cities such as Mumbai. Current dengue surveillance in Mumbai includes municipal corporation carrying out specific activities to reduce mosquito breeding sites and the use of ...

Manipulated Mosquitoes Cut Dengue by 77%

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T. Hayes,  Healthcare Packaging,  2021.
Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, wasn’t that common 50 years ago. In fact, only nine countries had severe outbreaks. But since then, it’s been on a steady incline to the point that there are now 400 million infections a year that contribute to 22,000 deaths. ...

Dengue fever: Upstaged but not outmatched by COVID-19

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C. E. Baclig,  INQUIRER.NET,  2021.
Science has made gains in the war on dengue and other diseases that mosquitoes carry, like malaria.One of these is the World Mosquito Program (WMP), a non-profit initiative that aims to protect the global community from mosquito-borne viral diseases, by deploying a natural ...

Dengue Infections Can Be Sharply Reduced With Wolbachia Bacteria

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J. Stone,  Medscape,  2021.
A modestly titled new study released in the New England Journal of Medicine belies the extraordinary 77% protective efficacy reported for preventing dengue infections with Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. A cluster-randomized clinical trial, the AWED ("Applying ...

Making mosquitoes to fight mosquitoes to prevent dengue

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A. George,  Times of India,  2021.
In 2017, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that the national capitl needed to be made mosquito-free. The same year, his Kerala counterpart, Pinaray Vijayan, called a three-day state-wide cleanliness drive as hospitals filled with genue patients.

Dengue Fever Cut Down by 77% With Groundbreaking Bacteria-Armed Mosquitoes

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M. Davis,  The Science Times,  2021.
Scientists found that dengue fever cases have decreased by 77% in a groundbreaking trial that took place in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia. They used Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes that reduced their ability to spread the dengue fever. The team at the World Mosquito Program said that ...

Mosquito ‘bacteria hack’ nearly eliminates dengue fever and could save millions of lives

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A. Wilkins,  METRO,  2021.
Mosquitoes infected with a ‘miraculous’ bacteria have been shown to reduce dengue fever cases by 77%, in a groundbreaking new study. Scientists released mosquitoes infected with ‘Wolbachia’ bacteria into the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta – but only in certain zones. In ...

‘Miraculous’ mosquito hack cuts dengue by 77%

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J. Gallagher,  BBC,  2021.
Dengue fever cases have been cut by 77% in a "groundbreaking" trial that manipulates the mosquitoes that spread it, say scientists. They used mosquitoes infected with "miraculous" bacteria that reduce the insect's ability to spread dengue. The trial took place in Yogyakarta city, ...

Modified mosquitoes reduce dengue cases by 77% in Indonesia experiment

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M. Fox,  CNN,  2021.
An experiment to infect mosquitoes with bacteria that stop them from transmitting viruses appears to have helped reduced the spread of deadly dengue virus in Indonesia, researchers reported Wednesday. The modified mosquitoes thrived for three years, and cases of dengue were ...

Efficacy of Wolbachia-Infected Mosquito Deployments for the Control of Dengue

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A. Utarini, C. Indriani, R. A. Ahmad, W. Tantowijoyo, E. Arguni, M. R. Ansari, E. Supriyati, D. S. Wardana, Y. Meitika, I. Ernesia, I. Nurhayati, E. Prabowo, B. Andari, B. R. Green, L. Hodgson, Z. Cutcher, E. Rancès, P. A. Ryan, S. L. O’Neill, S. M. Dufau,  New England Journal of Medicine,  384:2177-2186. 2021.
BACKGROUND Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with the wMel strain of Wolbachia pipientis are less susceptible than wild-type A. aegypti to dengue virus infection. METHODS We conducted a cluster-randomized trial involving releases of wMel-infected A. aegypti mosquitoes for the ...

Mosquitoes armed with virus-fighting bacteria sharply curb dengue infections, hospitalizations

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K. Servick,  Science,  2021.
A strategy for fighting dengue fever with bacteria-armed mosquitoes has passed its most rigorous test yet: a large, randomized, controlled trial. Researchers reported today dramatic reductions in rates of dengue infection and hospitalization in areas of an Indonesian city where ...

Study demonstrates ‘exciting potential’ of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to control dengue

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G. Gallagher,  Healio,  2021.
The release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes led to a 77% reduction in the incidence of symptomatic dengue in an Indonesian city, according to researchers, who said the same approach could be used to fight other mosquito-borne diseases. The study tested a strain of Wolbachia ...

Transgenic mosquito resistant to multiple serotypes of the dengue virus

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Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo in collaboration with the Molecular Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya,  University of Colombo,  2021.
The dengue virus causes epidemics in more than 100 tropical and sub-tropical countries, where over 2.5 billion people (over 40% of the world’s population) are currently at risk of dengue infections. In recent years, dengue has become the number one vector-borne disease in Sri ...

The potential cost-effectiveness of controlling dengue in Indonesia using wMel Wolbachia released at scale: a modelling study

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O. J. Brady, D. D. Kharisma, N. N. Wilastonegoro, K. M. Reilly, E. Hendricx, L. S. Bastos, L. Yakob and D. S. Shepard,  medRxiv,  2020.01.11.20017186. 2020.
Wolbachia releases in high density urban areas is expected to be highly cost-effective and could potentially be the first cost saving intervention for dengue. Sites with strong public health infrastructure, fiscal capacity, and community support should be prioritized.