Ecuador wants to release 100,000 infertile yellow fever mosquitoes in the Galapagos Islands. The release of the mosquitoes should prevent the transmission of dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses, the authorities reported on Friday.
It is the first time that infertile mosquitoes have been used on these islands to reduce the number of infections by these viruses. Locals and tourists are still plagued by mosquitoes.
According to the National Institute of Public Health (Inspi), the plan should improve the health of the population. The plan aims to prevent the transmission of diseases to tourists and reduce the use of chemical products used in disinfection,” Inspi said in a statement.
Researchers at the institute worked for six years on a project where yellow fever mosquitoes were bred in the laboratory. The mosquitoes were sterilized using radiation. Because the released mosquitoes cannot fertilize the females, this mosquito species decreases in numbers and therefore also the transmission of diseases.
Dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses cause fever, rash, muscle pain and nausea, among other things. The mosquitoes that transmit the viruses are mainly found in Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
The number of dengue virus infections has increased very rapidly in recent decades. Every year, an estimated 90 million dengue virus infections with symptoms occur worldwide, the RIVM reports. Children in particular can become very ill from the viruses.
