Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health & GS-III- Biotechnology
In news
Researchers from the World Mosquito Program have used mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria to successfully control dengue in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Important value additions
Wolbachia
Wolbachia are natural bacteria present in up to 60% of insect species, including some mosquitoes.
It is not usually found in the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
It is safe for humans, animals and the environment.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito spreads Dengue and other diseases such as chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever
However, it cannot spread the disease when it is artificially infected with Wolbachia.
Do you know?
Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus (Genus Flavivirus)
The dengue vaccine CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 2019.
It is the first dengue vaccine to get the regulatory nod in the US.
Dengvaxia is basically a live, attenuated dengue virus which has to be administered in people of ages 9 to 16 who have laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and who live in endemic areas.
