Fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes

The fight against dengue fever has a new weapon, namely mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria.

Transcript

00:00 It's just a small plastic bucket, but it can make a big difference.

00:05 In Yogyakarta, in central Java, residents are preparing to release tens of thousands

00:10 of mosquitoes right next to their homes.

00:13 Professor Adi Uttarini has been involved in the fight against dengue fever for over a

00:19 decade.

00:20 She has specialised in fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes.

00:26 We release both male and female mosquitoes with about the same proportion, so equal proportion,

00:35 with the thinking that if we release male and female mosquitoes, then once they are

00:40 in the natural habitat, they could mate with the mosquitoes in the population.

00:47 Researchers discovered that mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a widespread and harmless

00:52 bacteria, can no longer transmit the dangerous dengue virus.

00:57 Once introduced into a mosquito population, the bacteria-infected type gradually replaces

01:03 the native species.

01:05 The good news is that the bacteria not only blocks the dengue viruses from replicating

01:10 in their host, but scientists believe the bacteria can be used to combat other mosquito-borne

01:16 diseases such as Zika and yellow fever.

01:20 One of these mosquitoes lays about a hundred eggs, so from a box like this, the scientists

01:25 can harvest up to a thousand eggs and they're ready to hatch from a few days to several

01:31 months after being laid.

01:33 Yogyakarta used to be a constant hotspot for dengue outbreaks and it is particularly children,

01:39 like this little boy, who are at risk.

01:41 But after three years, a controlled trial found that dengue cases in treated areas decreased

01:47 by 77%.

01:50 Now the trial will be expanded to include Yogyakarta's surrounding provinces.

01:56 Winning the support of local residents has been key.

02:02 Initially the community was full of questions.

02:05 Why are mosquito larvae kept next to us?

02:08 The result is that more mosquitoes now enter our houses.

02:12 But the good news is that we can kill the ones that get in.

02:19 The release of Wolbachia mosquitoes in Yogyakarta began after two years of collaboration with

02:24 communities and approval from the provincial government.

02:28 There are millions of dengue cases in Indonesia every year.

02:32 A little white bucket could help change that.