Dengue fever causes 50 million infections annually in more than 90 countries; however this may soon become a thing of the past, as QIMR broadens its successful and totally environmentally-friendly mosquito-breeding control programs against dengue fever.
Using tiny micro-crustaceans called copepods, scientists at QIMR have, in a world-first, successfully eliminated the breeding of dengue-carrying mosquitos in 42 Vietnamese communities (of 46 communities trialed). Professor Brian Kay, Laboratory Head of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at QIMR, says that as a result, no cases of dengue fever have been reported in any of these communities since 2001.
The copepods prey on mosquito larvae, particularly the aedes aegyptii mosquito which is the major carrier of dengue fever. QIMR scientists believe this cost-effective model of mosquito control is applicable to other Asian countries, where the major sources of aedes aegyptii are large water storage containers. This method of mosquito control uses natural predators rather than insecticides, thereby reducing the effects of harmful chemicals. The results speak for themselves as the field trials in Vietnam to date have protected more than 400,000 people from dengue fever. The World Health Organisation has acknowledged this program as one of the most successful ever implemented. Reflecting on the program, Professor Kay said, "The major reason for the success of the copepod trial is because it has been embraced by local health personnel and the communities themselves who have been active in the control program."