Minas Gerais government begins Wolbachia mosquito releases in Mario Campos, Brazil

On 10 June, the Minas Gerais state health secretariat started the planned release of Wolbachia‑infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Mario Campos, part of the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area. The program, coordinated with the World Mosquito Program Brazil, Fiocruz and local authorities, aims to curb transmission of dengue, Zika and chikungunya by making the mosquito population unable to carry the viruses.

“The expectation is that Mario Campos will see a great reduction in cases in the coming years,” said Francisco Lemos, health surveillance coordinator for the Belo Horizonte regional health superintendence. Health secretary Isabela Pimentel added the initiative “is crucial to avoid deaths and, in the future, eradicate arboviruses.” Mayor Andresa Rodrigues emphasized that the project “carries lives” and will help protect the community.

The releases, produced at a bio‑factory built with more than R$ 77 million in investment, will occur over roughly 20 weeks, with measurable impacts expected about two years after the final release. This effort expands the Paraopeba Project, which will eventually cover 22 municipalities in the basin and is funded through reparations from the 2019 Brumadinho dam disaster.