Dengue's Impact in India
Dengue costs India about ₹28,300 crore annually in direct expenses.
It leads to 5.68 lakh years of young life lost every year.
Existing methods, like insecticides and community education, have only achieved modest success.
India’s dengue vaccines are still under trial, and effective antiviral drugs are not yet available.
Wolbachia Bacterium as a Vector Control Method
Wolbachia is a naturally occurring bacterium found in many insects but not in Aedes mosquitoes, which spread dengue.
Wolbachia can provide resistance to viral infections and has been shown to reduce the lifespan of some insects, which can help control mosquito populations.
Since 2009, Wolbachia has been studied as a potential solution for controlling mosquito-borne diseases.
What is the wMel Strategy?
The wMel strain of Wolbachia is used to infect Aedes mosquitoes, which helps reduce dengue transmission.
Implementation:
Singapore: Released infected male mosquitoes to drastically reduce Aedes populations by 90% through non-viable eggs.
Australia: Used a population replacement strategy to spread wMel mosquitoes, leading to a stable wMel population and successful dengue control.
Field Trials:
Indonesia: A trial showed that wMel mosquitoes reduced dengue cases by about 77% and hospitalizations by 86% over three years.
Safety and Long-Term Impact:
The strategy is not considered genetic engineering, as Wolbachia is naturally occurring and does not affect humans.
The long-term environmental impact is still unknown.
wMel Programs in India
India does not yet have an active wMel release program, though trials and research are ongoing.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing wMel mosquito strains in Puducherry, with successful preliminary studies.
The wMel strategy could effectively reduce diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, offering a promising alternative to insecticides.
Proper communication and lessons from other countries are essential for the successful implementation of wMel programs in India.
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