BY GEORGE NAVA TRUE II
RESULTS of a randomized controlled trial published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine show that the incidence of dengue was reduced by 77% in areas of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where mosquitoes with Wolbachia were released.
Dengue cases requiring hospitalization were also reduced by 86% in the Wolbachia-treated areas. Efficacy was equivalent for all four serotypes of dengue.
The trial, “Applying Wolbachia to Eliminate Dengue”, was conducted by the World Mosquito Program from Monash University with its Indonesia partners Gadjah Mada University and the Tahija Foundation.
The trial tested whether the introduction of Wolbachia into the local Aedes aegypti mosquito population, through the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, would reduce the incidence of dengue among 3- to 45- year-old residents of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
More than three years after completion of mosquito releases, Wolbachia remains at an extremely high level in the local mosquito population. Since the trial, this method has been implemented across the entire city of Yogyakarta and has spread into neighbouring districts to cover a population of 2.5 million people.
Effects on dengue
The result is consistent with previous trials of the Wolbachia method, which show long-term reduction in dengue incidence once it is sustained within the local mosquito population. Studies also show that the Wolbachia method is effective in preventing the transmission of Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and other vector-borne diseases.
Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne disease in the world, with more than 50 million cases that occur globally every year. Co-Principal Investigator, Prof. Cameron Simmons from Monash University believes that these results showcase the significant impact the Wolbachia method can have in reducing dengue in urban populations.
“This result demonstrates what an exciting breakthrough Wolbachia can be – a safe, durable and efficacious new product class for dengue control is just what the global community needs,” he said.
Safe and effective
World Mosquito Program Director, Prof. Scott O’Neill added that “This is the result we’ve been waiting for – evidence that our Wolbachia method is safe, sustainable, and dramatically reduces the incidence of dengue. It gives us great confidence in the positive impact this method will have worldwide when provided to communities at risk of these mosquito-transmitted diseases.”
The potential for this Wolbachia method to be deployed across communities worldwide has been acknowledged by the World Health Organisation, whose Vector Control Advisory Group declared that it demonstrates public health value against dengue.
The risk of dengue fever infection in the Philippines is nationwide. According to a recent Singapore study by ValueChampion, the Philippines is considered a nation at most risk from dengue across 12 countries in Southeast Asia.
Moreover, the Department of Health (DOH) reported more than 59,000 cases of dengue fever in 2020 while the DOH declared a national dengue epidemic in 2019 after more than 400,000 people were infected with the virus with over 1,000 deaths recorded.
***
National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George N. True II has written two bestsellers based on his popular column which has been running for almost 40 years. For questions about health, email georgenavatrue@yahoo.com./PN
