FHI 360 is a partner in the Eliminate Dengue Program, a large multi-institution research program led by Professor Scott O’Neill, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science at Monash University, Australia. The project is developing a highly novel approach to control mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. The strategy uses a naturally occurring, obligate intracellular insect bacterium, Wolbachia pipientis, to block transmission of dengue viruses by the primary mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Currently, preparations are under way in Vietnam to conduct a field trial of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti in Khanh Hoa province. The goals of this release are to establish Wolbachia infection in natural mosquito populations and to demonstrate that its anti-dengue properties are present in mosquitoes under field conditions. The trial must also demonstrate to the local and international community that Wolbachia-infected mosquito releases are not harmful.

For information on Eliminate Dengue's work in other countries, please click here.