Wolbachia Project

The Wolbachia Project uses a bacterium called Wolbachia to help control mosquito populations and reduce the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Wolbachia naturally occurs in many insects but not in Aedes mosquitoes, which are responsible for these diseases. By introducing Wolbachia into mosquito populations, these mosquitoes become less capable of carrying the viruses. Additionally, when infected mosquitoes breed, the resulting offspring also carry the bacterium, helping to weaken the virus's transmission over time. This innovative approach offers a potential solution to combat mosquito-borne diseases while minimizing the use of chemical pesticides.