Brazil expands Wolbachia mosquito technology to fight dengue

Brazilian cities Palmas and Foz do Iguaçu are expanding the use of the Wolbachia method to combat the transmission of dengue, zika, and chikungunya. This technology involves releasing Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria, which prevents the viruses from developing within the insect.

In Palmas, the municipal health department, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Fiocruz, and Wolbito do Brasil, is launching the project. Following an initial community engagement phase where 86.1% of surveyed residents approved the initiative, the gradual release of the mosquitoes is scheduled to begin in the second half of October and continue for 26 weeks. An insectary will be established at the Zoonoses Surveillance and Control Unit to produce the mosquitoes.

Foz do Iguaçu has entered a second stage of the method, expanding the release to new areas. The city reported significant success with the strategy, noting a 93% reduction in dengue cases in 2025. The program is designed to be integrated with traditional mosquito control measures, such as eliminating breeding sites and epidemiological surveillance.