Brazil Experts To Release Genetically Modified Mosquitoes To Combat Rising Dengue Cases

Experts in Brazil will release genetically modified mosquitoes to combat the rising number of dengue cases in the country.

Public Health Emergency

The Pan Health American Organization noted that between epidemiological weeks (EW) 1 and 7 of 2024, a total of 1,424,154 suspected cases of dengue were reported and this resulted in a cumulative incidence of 156 per 100,000 population.

This figure represents an increase of 226% compared to the same period in 2023 and 316% compared to the average of the last five years.

Out of the 1,424,154 cases of dengue reported in the region of the Americas, a total of 477,159 (33%) cases were confirmed by laboratory, and 1,307 (0.1%) cases were classified as severe dengue.

Officials said that a total of 285 deaths have been registered and this resulted in case fatality rate of 0.020%. Meanwhile, a total of 13 countries and territories of the region have updated their epidemiological information up to EW 7.

These countries accounted for 231,468 new suspected cases of dengue in EW 7. Of the total cases registered in the EW 7, 183 (0.1%) were classified as severe dengue, and authorities have reported 18 deaths.

Rio de Janeiro has already declared a public health emergency because of the outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever in February of this year.

Officials from the Rio City Hall announced the opening of 10 care centers, the creation of an emergency operations center and the allocation of hospital beds for the dengue patients.

On the other hand, authorities will also use "smoke cars" in regions with the highest incidence of cases, diffusing an insecticide in the air.

Since the beginning of 2024, the municipality has registered more than 10,000 dengue cases.

Authorities said that the number was under half of the total cases - 23,000 - recorded throughout all of 2023.

Due to the situation, health authorities in Brazil are testing alternative approaches to control the spread of the disease aside from the plan to roll out a vaccine.

These strategies and measures include the use of genetically modified mosquitoes, which is an effort spearheaded by biotech company Oxitec.

Oxitec explained that the company breeds male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - the species that spreads the dengue fever virus to humans.

Experts noted that these are genetically modified to carry a gene that kills any female offspring they spawn before the pests even reach the adulthood.

They also explained that the eggs of Oxitec's modified male mosquitoes are being placed in boxes and are prompted to hatch with the addition of water.

Researchers further said that A. aegypti mosquitoes normally lay their eggs in stagnant water - specifically on the inner walls of containers holding the water, such as bowls or tires.

It was determined that the approach can reduce A. aegypti population numbers by up to 90% in regions where the genetically modified mosquitoes are released.

Denge Could Be Fatal

The World Health Organization said that dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates.

Most people who get dengue won't have symptoms. But for those that do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.

Most patients will also get better in one to two weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital.

In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.