Wolbachia bacteria may be solution in fight against dengue fever

An expert panel has recommended that Singapore explore the use of male mosquitoes carrying a type of bacteria known as Wolbachia in the fight against dengue fever, the National Environment Agency said on Friday.

When a male Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with the Wolbachia bacteria mates with a female partner, they produce sterile eggs that do not hatch. This can help reduce the Aedes mosquito population.

The dengue fever is transmitted through female Aedes mosquitoes biting people. The male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes do not bite.

Wolbachia is found in more than 60 percent of insects, including butterflies, dragonflies and fruit flies, but it has the special effect of sterility on the Aedes aegypti mosquito, said the panel chaired by epidemiologist and entomologist Professor Duane Gubler.

The panel recommended further studies, involving the field release of Wolbachia-carrying Aedes males.

"Wolbachia-carrying Aedes has been released in several places, such as Australia, Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam, with no negative impact on public health and ecology," said Professor Ary Hoffmann from the University of Melbourne in Australia who is a member of the panel.

The National Environment Agency said it will review the details of the recommendations, and continue working with relevant experts and stakeholders to develop the framework for the safe and effective adoption of the Wolbachia technology.