The municipality of Belo Horizonte announced that it will release the Aedes aegypti mosquito on Wednesday (22). The insects will contain bacteria WolbachiaAble to reduce the transmission of dengue, Zika and chikungunya. This is one of the disease prevention and control strategies implemented by the municipality. The release will take place in the Belvedere neighborhood, in the south-central area of the capital.
But what is the purpose of the procedure? The mosquitoes that will be released carry WolbachiaThese are bacteria that cannot be transmitted to humans or animals. As a result, the ability of Aedes aegypti to transmit dengue, Zika or chikungunya is reduced. Reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.
The mosquitoes are produced in the Insect Room – a collection of duly classified insects for observation and study – in the capital’s City Hall and have no genetic modification. The mosquito release method began in 2020 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Belo Horizonte is one of the pioneer cities in applying this technology and was the first municipality in the country to have its own insect museum. This is an important investment because it guarantees independence, continuity and control of procedures,” explains the Undersecretary of Health Promotion and Surveillance, Fabiano dos Anjos.
Join the Itatiaia channel on Whatsapp and get the main news of the day directly on your cell phone.
Click here and register.