Bacteria allies to control dengue virus discovered
Researchers say findings are a 'big deal' with cases falling by more than 70% in field trials
'Findings are a big deal with cases falling by more than 70% in field trials'. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Recruiting a bacterial ally that infects mosquitoes has led to huge reductions in cases of dengue fever, trials around the world show.
Wolbachia bacteria make it harder for the insects to spread the virus, rather than kill them off, according to a report published in BBC News.
Researchers say the findings are a "big deal" with cases falling by more than 70% in field trials.
New ways of controlling dengue are urgently needed as cases have exploded worldwide in the past 50 years.
In Pakistan thousands of people have been affected by the dengue fever this year and 68 of them have lost their lives only in Punjab.
Wolbachia bacteria make it harder for the dengue virus to grow inside the mosquito.
It is thought the bacteria camp out in areas inside mosquitoes that the dengue virus needs to get into and that the bacteria use up resources that the virus needs.
Dengue kills 68 people in 10 months: report
If the dengue virus cannot replicate and increase its numbers in the mosquito then it is much less likely to be transmitted when the insect bites again.
Many species of insects are naturally infected by the bacterium, including the tiny fruit flies dancing around your kitchen. But the main mosquito that spreads dengue fever - Aedes aegypti - is not normally affected.
So, researchers have been micro-injecting species of Wolbachia into tiny mosquito eggs to see which bacteria can thrive in different climates.
What is dengue?
Dengue fever is caused by a virus that is spread from person to person by blood-sucking mosquitoes.
The symptoms vary wildly with some people showing no sign of infection, others have bad flu-like symptoms, while some are killed by dengue.
The disease is commonly known as "break-bone fever" because it causes severe pain in muscles and bones.
In the worst cases, people develop "dengue haemorrhagic fever", which kills 25,000 people a year around the world.
The story originally appeared on BBC News
Wolbachia bacteria make it harder for the insects to spread the virus, rather than kill them off, according to a report published in BBC News.
Researchers say the findings are a "big deal" with cases falling by more than 70% in field trials.
New ways of controlling dengue are urgently needed as cases have exploded worldwide in the past 50 years.
In Pakistan thousands of people have been affected by the dengue fever this year and 68 of them have lost their lives only in Punjab.
Wolbachia bacteria make it harder for the dengue virus to grow inside the mosquito.
It is thought the bacteria camp out in areas inside mosquitoes that the dengue virus needs to get into and that the bacteria use up resources that the virus needs.
Dengue kills 68 people in 10 months: report
If the dengue virus cannot replicate and increase its numbers in the mosquito then it is much less likely to be transmitted when the insect bites again.
Many species of insects are naturally infected by the bacterium, including the tiny fruit flies dancing around your kitchen. But the main mosquito that spreads dengue fever - Aedes aegypti - is not normally affected.
So, researchers have been micro-injecting species of Wolbachia into tiny mosquito eggs to see which bacteria can thrive in different climates.
What is dengue?
Dengue fever is caused by a virus that is spread from person to person by blood-sucking mosquitoes.
The symptoms vary wildly with some people showing no sign of infection, others have bad flu-like symptoms, while some are killed by dengue.
The disease is commonly known as "break-bone fever" because it causes severe pain in muscles and bones.
In the worst cases, people develop "dengue haemorrhagic fever", which kills 25,000 people a year around the world.
The story originally appeared on BBC News