Researchers yellow fever mosquitoes are to fight dengue fever

In Colombia manipulated mosquitoes are used to stem the spread of dengue fever
Colombia is one of the main areas of spread of dangerous dengue fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Scientists are now resorting to an unusual means to stop the disease: By manipulating yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), the dengue virus can no longer nest in the animals, so that a transfer to humans is excluded. The project is being managed by the University of Antioquia and is part of a program to eradicate dengue fever that is also taking place in other regions.

Manipulated mosquitoes are designed to reduce yellow fever. (Image: auimeesri / fotolia)

Bacterium prevents the development of dengue virus in the mosquitoes
The researchers infect the mosquitoes with the bacterium Wolbachia, which prevents the dengue virus from developing in the body of a mosquito. It also prevents the transmission of the virus to humans, as the scientists of the program for the study and control of tropical diseases (Pecet) explain.

The modified mosquitoes are then gradually exposed in París in northeastern Colombia. Every week the same number of male and female mosquitoes are brought there. In the first step, the animals should settle in París. If the project goes according to plan, the bacterium, which is not transmissible to humans, is passed on from mosquito generation to mosquito generation, so that a population develops that no longer transmits the dengue fever. This should significantly reduce the number of dengue infections in the affected neighborhoods.

Nearly 40,000 cases of dengue fever in Colombia
Since the beginning of the year, the health authorities have registered nearly 40,000 cases of dengue fever. The disease is prevalent in Latin America, Central Africa, India, Southeast Asia, parts of the Pacific, and the southern United States.

Dengue fever usually manifests itself with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills and headache, muscle and limb pain. In addition, a rash (rash) may occur. Most of the infectious disease is mild, but it also regularly leads to severe progressions, in which the so-called haemorrhagic dengue fever develops, which manifests itself by an acute shock syndrome with hemorrhage. The permeability of the blood vessel walls increases, causing uncontrolled bleeding. As a result, the bloodstream can collapse and the patient fall into a coma.

There is no vaccine against dengue fever or causal therapy. Medication can only alleviate some symptoms. (Ag)