Eliminate Dengue researcher Dr Andrew Turley and Cranbrook resident Claire Davies, who will participate in the next stage of the trial. Picture: CHARLIE PEEL Source: News Corp Australia
THE next battle in the war on dengue has begun, with 15 new suburbs breeding dengue-resistant mosquitoes.
The Eliminate Dengue trial began last year and the team has already released wolbachia mosquitoes in 18 suburbs.
Wolbachia is a bacteria that limits a mosquito’s ability to transmit dengue.
Field trial manager Dr Andrew Turley said the additional suburbs would triple the coverage of the program and reach three-quarters of the city.
“The early results of those trials are really encouraging and we’re seeing most mosquitoes in the suburbs we’ve already released in now carrying the wolbachia bacteria,” he said.
“We’ve had fantastic support from the community in those areas. Now we are looking to step it up.”
Participants in the trial are given boxes containing wolbachia mosquito eggs and food.
Eliminate Dengue community reference group chairman Gary Eddiehausen said he would sign up for the trial and urged others to get involved.
“The trial’s success is very much dependent on the community’s support,” he said. “We need to lead the charge in making investigations, inquiries and undertaking research in relation to dengue fever.”
Cranbrook’s Claire Davies said she signed up after hearing about the trial from friends.
“It’s exciting to know something in my backyard could be helping millions,” she said.
Townsville Public Health Unit physician Dr Steven Donohue said there had been no cases of locally acquired dengue in Townsville in the year up to June and only one case since – the best result in the past 15 years. Many factors, including a lack of rain and proactive community work could be credited alongside the wolbachia release with that low number, Dr Donohue said.