Chinese mosquitoes to curb the spread of dengue

Dengue is a deadly disease caused by the four different types of viruses and transmitted by mosquitoes. Researchers for long now have been coming up with new ways to prevent the spread and also arrive at treatment options for the disease. And now, Chinese scientist have found an innovative way. They have bred a symbiotic bacteria in mosquitoes to inhibit the spread of dengue fever in south China's Guangdong Province. The scientist from the from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou City injected Wolbachia- a bacteria into Aedes albopictusa type of mosquito responsible for the spread of the disease. The Wolbachia is a species of bacteria that only lives inside the insect cell and can kill dengue viruses inside the mosquito. Read: 10 practical tips to be mosquito-free and prevent dengue

Xi Zhiyong, medical professor at Sun Yat-sen University said that dengue viruses replicate in mosquitoes and the bacteria can prevent this replication. This year in March, mosquitoes with the bacteria were released into the nature as a part of the pilot program. The scientists also plan to release a large number of male mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia in the nature and reduce mosquito population to control the spread of dengue. Xi also explained that these mosquitoes with Wolbachia are not harmful to humans because the bacteria cannot survive in human bodies.

Dengue is a tropical disease and its symptoms include sudden fever, joint pain.