The Wolbachia bacterium succeeds in its mission. Dengue almost disappeared in 2022
The World Mosquito Program is a success. The principle is to release mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacterium into the wild. These mosquitoes are gradually taking over from the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever in Caledonia. There were only three cases of dengue in 2022. There were more than 4,000 in 2018 and some deaths…. Scientists estimate that if 80% of mosquitoes carry the bacteria, the risk of dengue transmission is extremely low. This figure is almost reached. It will probably be reached this year.
It is difficult to talk about eradication, because cases of dengue can still be imported, but we are not far from it.
If the fight against the scourge of shark attacks were as effective, Caledonia would be a real paradise…
