Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
June 16, 2016
Many foreign countries interested in groundbreaking research by Mahidol scientists.
Thailand yesterday launched sterilised mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) in the world's first open-environment trial of a new method to control mosquito-borne diseases.
The experiment in Chachoengsao marked Asean Dengue Day.
Dengue is a serious health threat in tropical countries, especially the Asean region. Since New Year in Thailand, 18,337 patients were hospitalised with dengue and there were 16 deaths.
However, research by Mahidol University's Centre of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, has resulted in what it sees as a new mosquito-control method.
It distributes sterilised mosquitoes to naturally reduce the mosquito population, aiming at fighting mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fewer, dengue, chikungunya, and zika.
Dr Pattamaporn Kittayapong, leading researcher at the centre, said this was the world's first project using sterilised mosquitoes in a trial in an open environment. If the experiment is a success, it will be a turning point for mosquito-borne-disease control.
"The trial period is three months long and we will release 100 sterilised male mosquitoes per house in Ban Nongsatit Village in Chachoengsao's Plangyao district once a week. Then we will monitor the change in mosquito population," Pattamaporn explained.
"The sterilised male mosquitoes that we released will mate with female mosquitoes, which are the vector for the diseases. After that, the females' eggs will be unfertilised so they cannot reproduce. The result will be the mosquito population will decline without any impact on other mosquito species or the environment."
READ MORE
Many foreign countries interested in groundbreaking research by Mahidol scientists.
Thailand yesterday launched sterilised mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) in the world's first open-environment trial of a new method to control mosquito-borne diseases.
The experiment in Chachoengsao marked Asean Dengue Day.
Dengue is a serious health threat in tropical countries, especially the Asean region. Since New Year in Thailand, 18,337 patients were hospitalised with dengue and there were 16 deaths.
However, research by Mahidol University's Centre of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, has resulted in what it sees as a new mosquito-control method.
It distributes sterilised mosquitoes to naturally reduce the mosquito population, aiming at fighting mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fewer, dengue, chikungunya, and zika.
Dr Pattamaporn Kittayapong, leading researcher at the centre, said this was the world's first project using sterilised mosquitoes in a trial in an open environment. If the experiment is a success, it will be a turning point for mosquito-borne-disease control.
"The trial period is three months long and we will release 100 sterilised male mosquitoes per house in Ban Nongsatit Village in Chachoengsao's Plangyao district once a week. Then we will monitor the change in mosquito population," Pattamaporn explained.
"The sterilised male mosquitoes that we released will mate with female mosquitoes, which are the vector for the diseases. After that, the females' eggs will be unfertilised so they cannot reproduce. The result will be the mosquito population will decline without any impact on other mosquito species or the environment."
READ MORE