Technology uses mosquitoes with natural bacteria to reduce the transmission of dengue fever In Porto Velho, Aedes aegypti will no longer be the villain and will become a hero in the fight against arboviruses, such as dengue, chikungunya and zika. The city began implementing the Wolbachia method, a globally recognized initiative that prevents the development of viruses that cause these diseases within the insect. The method consists of releasing mosquitoes that carry Wolbachia, a natural bacteria present in more than half of insects in nature. It acts as a blockade, making Aedes aegypti unable to transmit arboviruses. When spread throughout the city, these mosquitoes interbreed with the local population and pass the bacteria on to the next generations. The modification does not involve genetic alteration, does not use chemicals and is considered safe, with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and approval from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The method has already reduced dengue cases by up to 89% in Niterói (RJ) and brought good results in cities such as Joinville (SC) and Campo Grande (MS). The action is led by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and operated by Wolbito Brasil. READ ALSO: MPF sues bank for financing livestock farming on indigenous land in Rondônia Man is arrested by the Federal Police with 1.2 kg of gold in RO Motorcyclist dies after colliding head-on with a trailer on BR-364, in Pimenta Bueno Fiocruz researcher Diogo Chalegre follows the stages in Porto Velho and asks residents for peace of mind during the release of the insects. He reinforces that mosquitoes are visually identical to common ones and that the method uses a microorganism already present in the environment. “This bacterium is already present in 60% of insects in nature, but it was not yet present in Aedes aegypti”, highlights Chalegre. Another fundamental point defended by the researcher is that the process does not involve transgenics. Faced with the unusual scene of agents releasing insects onto the streets, he reinforces the request for tranquility. “There is no type of genetic modification; the population should remain calm, although sometimes it scares you to see an agent of endemic diseases releasing these mosquitoes”, he ponders. Visually, the insects that are being released are identical to those that people already find in their homes on a daily basis. The only difference is in the biological "shield" they carry. "They are the same. The only difference is that they are carrying this bacteria that will protect us from acquiring these diseases", he concludes. Despite the innovation, Chalegre reinforces that traditional prevention measures must continue. "Everyone needs to keep doing the work. Just because I have a new component here on the roster, doing this control, fighting this, doesn't mean that I, as a resident, will stop taking care of my yard. I can't leave stagnant water, I have to avoid the breeding ground, because, otherwise, we won't be able to beat this disease," he said. How it will work in Porto Velho The first phase of the project focuses on communication and population engagement. According to Fiocruz, 276,393 people will be covered in 27 neighborhoods in Porto Velho, with educational visits to schools, health units and public spaces, in addition to publicity in the local media. Then begins the controlled release of adult mosquitoes with Wolbachia, known as "wolbitos". The release is done by teams on foot or by car, who release the insects trapped in tubes along the route. Each of the 27 chosen neighborhoods will receive around two million copies per week. Release will occur over 26 weeks. After this period and monitoring, release will no longer be necessary, as the population of mosquitoes with the bacteria will already be established. Scientists are expected to observe initial results within 26 weeks after the first release. "The idea is that, at the end of this period, we will already have an established population of Wolbachia here in the city. And, with that, in one or two years, we actually hope to see a result in the transmission of these diseases, with a reduction in the number of cases here in Porto Velho", projects the researcher. Mosquito production Insects are produced in the new Fiocruz Rondônia insectarium. The space has preparation and breeding rooms, from the larval stage to adulthood, where they are kept until release operations. The insectarium will operate every day of the week for a period of six months. This time coincides with the release phase and is necessary to guarantee the production of the quantity of wolbites determined by the project. Porto Velho receives new technology to combat arbovirus Wolbito from Brazil Porto Velho receives new technology to combat arbovirus Wolbito from Brazil Porto Velho receives new technology to combat arbovirus. Wolbito from Brazil