Valencia Lab Sterilizes Mosquitoes to Combat Dengue Spread

The Biological Pest Control Centre in Valencia is combating dengue fever by breeding and sterilizing tiger mosquitoes. The lab releases about 45,000 sterilized males weekly to reduce the population of disease-transmitting females. This method, adapted from fruit fly research, aims to address the growing spread of mosquitoes due to climate change. With dengue cases rising globally and local outbreaks increasing, this innovative approach could significantly impact disease control and public health.

The lab has employed an electron accelerator to sterilize approximately 45,000 male Aedes albopictus mosquitoes each week, reports Reuters. These sterilized males are then released into the environment to mate with females. Since female mosquitoes transmit diseases through their bites, reducing the number of viable females is expected to lower the overall mosquito population and, consequently, the incidence of diseases such as dengue, zika, and chikungunya.

Over 7.6 million dengue cases have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by April 2024, including more than 3,000 deaths.  A global rise in dengue cases has also been reported, with the number of infections increasing eightfold from 2000 to 2022. The warmer climate is believed to contribute to faster mosquito multiplication rates, reports MBN,  highlighting the importance of innovative solutions like the one being developed in Valencia. 

Vicente Dalmau, Head of Health, Agriculture, and Fisheries Department, Valencia, explained that climate change has created favorable conditions for mosquitoes to thrive year-round. Severe droughts, heatwaves, and dwindling water reserves have further accelerated mosquito breeding, making efforts to control their populations increasingly crucial.

The tiger mosquito, known for its distinctive stripes, is expanding across Europe and now has self-sustaining populations in 13 countries, including Spain.