Ponta Grossa starts releasing mosquitoes with bacteria to combat dengue

The Prefeitura de Ponta Grossa began on Tuesday the release of mosquitoes with the bacterium Wolbachia, a technology used to reduce the transmission of dengue, Zika and chikungunya. The action began after the inauguration of a Biofactory in Jardim Paraíso, a structure responsible for the preparation of insects that will be released in different regions of the municipality.

In all, more than 5,300 Ponta Grossa points will be served during the next 26 weeks, in an operation that seeks to decrease the circulation of viruses transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The project is developed in partnership between the Municipal Health Secretariat, the Ministry of Health, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and the Wolbito company of Brazil.

How does the Wolbachia Method work?

The Wolbachia Method uses Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that naturally carry the Wolbachia bacterium, capable of reducing the transmission of viruses such as dengue, zika and chikungunya.

After being released into the environment, these mosquitoes reproduce with local insects, transmitting the bacteria to the next generations. Over time, the population of mosquitoes with Wolbachia is expected to increase, reducing the potential for transmission of these diseases.

prefeita Elizabeth Schmidt participated in the first releases and highlighted the importance of the initiative for public health in the municipality.

"It's a historic moment for Ponta Grossa. We have been able, with the support and work of several people, to bring to the Municipality an internationally recognized technology that will play a key role in the fight against dengue fever. This does not diminish the importance of the population to continue collaborating to win this battle together," he said.

What neighborhoods of Ponta Grossa will receive mosquitoes?

The selection of regions took into account technical analyses on the concentration of dengue cases recorded in recent months.

The releases will take place at points distributed in the following regions:

Centre;

Uvaranas;

Offices;

Cara-Cara;

Contour;

Colony Dona Luiza;

Plated;

Round.

The release will be carried out weekly by trained field agents, using specific vehicles and equipment. The procedure will be gradual and will follow an established planning for the next 26 weeks.

Before the start of operations, teams responsible for the project carried out orientation and community engagement activities to present the technology to the population.

According to Gabriel Sylvestre, implementation manager of Wolbito do Brasil, the participation of residents will continue to be fundamental.

“Now that the population already knows the method and understands that it is a safe technology for protection, the releases of mosquitoes begin. It will be an intense work in the coming weeks, which still counts on the collaboration of people in the elimination of the mosquito and possible breeding grounds. Who kills the aedes aegypti also contributes to the method," he explained.

New biofactory will prepare mosquitoes for release

The structure inaugurated in Jardim Paraíso has a production core responsible for the development of mosquitoes, known as Wolbitos, from the egg phase to the adult phase.

The process begins with receiving capsules containing eggs and food for the larvae. In contact with water, the eggs begin their development until the mosquitoes are ready to be released.

After this step, the insects are transported in specific vehicles to the points previously defined by the technical teams.

The monitoring will be carried out by means of ovitramps, traps used to monitor the presence of Wolbachia bacteria in mosquito populations.

Method has already shown a reduction of 89% in dengue cases

The technology is already used in other Brazilian cities and has shown significant results in reducing the transmission of diseases.

In Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro, where the method was implemented throughout the municipal territory, studies pointed to a reduction of 89% in dengue cases in the evaluated areas.

The health authorities expect Ponta Grossa to also show a decrease in the incidence of the disease as the bacterium establishes itself in the local population of mosquitoes.

Despite the implementation of the new technology, the City Council reinforces that traditional care remains necessary. The elimination of standing water containers, land clearance and the prevention of breeding grounds remain essential measures to combat the proliferation of Aedes aegypti.

Read also: https://bntonline.com.br/onibus-gratuito-ponta-grossa-segundo-turno/