Mosquitoes raised on Tri Nguyen Island have the ability to prevent Zika virus

On the afternoon of March 6, Dr. Le Tan Phung, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Health, said that the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Ministry of Health) has just issued an official document informing that the Aedes aegypti mosquito carrying the biological agent Wolbachia, which is being tested on Tri Nguyen Island (Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province), has the ability to inhibit the Zika virus (the virus that causes microcephaly).

Zika virus is transmitted through the Aedes aegypti mosquito - Photo: TN

Specifically, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said that the Aedes aegypti mosquito naturally present in most provinces and cities across the country can transmit the Dengue virus (causing dengue fever), the Chikungunya virus as well as the Zika virus when they suck the blood of people with the above viruses.

However, Aedes mosquitoes are only disease vectors and cannot cause dengue fever or Zika virus. Meanwhile, some recent studies have shown that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carry the biological agent Wolbachia, which can inhibit the development of Chikungunya virus and Zika virus.

Previously, due to public opinion raising the issue of whether the project to replace the natural Aedes aegypti mosquito population on Tri Nguyen Island with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the biological agent Wolbachia (limiting the transmission of dengue fever) could carry the Zika virus, the Provincial People's Committee requested the Provincial Department of Health to coordinate with specialized agencies to clarify.

According to TNO