Dengue Wolbachia: Reducing Cases in South Carolina

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According to the World Mosquito‌ Program, mosquitoes infected ⁢with Wolbachia have the potential to replace non-infected host populations over ​several⁣ generations. This means ⁣that if an Aedes aegypti‍ mosquito receives Wolbachia, through embryonic microinjection, ⁤it is prevented from transmitting diseases ⁢such as dengue, zika and chikungunya. Furthermore, when natural reproduction ⁢occurs between the insects, the new mosquitoes are already born with wolbachia.Mosquitoes that receive ⁤or ​are born with the bacteria are called Wolbitos.

The Australian research lasted about four years. The ⁤discovery was ⁤announced in a ‍scientific paper in 2009. The implementation manager at Wolbito Brazil, Gabriel sylvestre, explains that the ‌first mosquitoes of the method were released ‌in the country oceanic in 2011. in ‌Brazil, this occurred ⁣in 2014. Now, 15 countries use the methodology.

Initially,⁤ Aedes ⁣aegypti mosquitoes were injected with the Wolbachia bacteria, treated in the laboratory until adulthood and ⁣then released into the streets ‌of⁢ various cities. However, the methodology has become so advanced that it is no longer necessary to infect new mosquitoes. A large ⁣colony of mosquitoes is responsible ‍for spreading the Wolbachia Method ​throughout the⁤ world.

Factory in Joinville produces‍ mosquitoes for three municipalities

Brazil is currently a major reference for ‍the Wolbachia Method.⁤ The city of Curitiba, capital of Paraná, ⁢has the largest factory of the methodology ‍in the world. Each week, more than 100 million Wolbitos eggs are produced at the location,‌ which ⁢are distributed to the​ cities that ‍have adopted the method. Researchers⁣ send‍ mosquito eggs and the food that ​should be used to ⁣feed the insects and strengthen the colony until adulthood.

In Santa Catarina,the municipality of⁤ Joinville is responsible​ for the ‌production of the State. ⁢A ⁤biofactory was built in 2024, in the‌ Nova Brasília⁣ neighborhood, to meet the demand of the city, along with Blumenau and Balneário Camboriú – which received the method in 2025.

– ​Added together ‍the populations, ⁢we reach close to⁣ 400 thousand people who are ⁢being contemplated by the method – says Sylvestre.

In the Santa Catarina ⁢biofactory

qualidade – declara Sylvestre.

A ⁢queda no número de casos⁣ prováveis (confirmados, inconclusivos e ⁤suspeitos) ⁢de⁤ dengue em todo o Estado, que ​saiu​ de 334.696⁢ em 2024 para 25.734 em ⁣2025, é vista por médicos e especialistas‍ como o resultado de ​um conjunto ​de fatores.

O professor e doutor em ciências⁤ da saúde Victor⁤ Hugo Pereira ‌da Silva explica que mesmo que ⁤o Estado continue ⁢infestado com focos de dengue (reduziu apenas 5,75% entre 2024 e 2025),a vacinação​ e o Método⁤ Wolbachia se ⁢mostraram⁢ extremamente eficazes no controle do ​arbovírus,já que a ‌presença do Aedes aegypti não significa uma maior transmissão da doença.

– A perspectiva para 2025 era de que a dengue seria‌ ainda mais séria, mais grave.Porque nós temos dois sorotipos circulando. Mas, pela minha perspectiva, o responsável pela diminuição de casos é o projeto Wolbachia. O inquérito entomológico, publicado pela‍ Vigilância Epidemiológica do‌ Estado, mostra que⁣ Joinville está numa região de infestação de Aedes⁢ aegypti. Mas o número ⁣de casos reduziu mais de 98%. Em contato com⁣ pessoas da comunidade,vimos que,empiricamente,não houve essa⁤ percepção de ‌número de casos de pessoas acometidas como ocorreu em 2024 – afirma Silva.

Essa percepção também chegou‌ à rede pública de saúde de Florianópolis. O médico infectologista⁢ do Hospital Universitário da⁢ Universidade Federal de ⁣Santa Catarina (HU-UFSC), Rodrigo Douglas Rodrigues, ‌relata ‍que quando há uma alta nos casos graves de dengue, como⁤ visto nos ⁣últimos anos, reflete em uma superlotação ⁤dos hospitais.

– Este ano,até ‍o momento,Florianópolis está com um número baixo de casos de​ dengue,comparado ao ano passado.‌ No entanto, a⁢ gente precisa ⁢manter todas as medidas para ⁢prevenção, porque, em geral, o maior número de casos ‌ocorre no final do primeiro⁢ trimestre do ano, então em​ torno de ⁢março, abril. A gente ainda não chegou nesse período. ‌É possível que tenha um aumento nos próximos ‌meses – revela Rodrigues.

O médico infectologista ainda explica⁤ que o vírus da dengue possui‍ quatro sorotipos⁤ existentes. Isso significa que uma pessoa ⁤que já foi⁢ infectada,por exemplo,pelo sorotipo ‌1,pode ⁤contrair novamente a ⁣doença ​pelo ⁢sorotipo 2.

– Cada reinfecção ⁢é mais grave,​ porque os anticorpos que a gente produz contra um sorotipo apresentam uma reação cruzada ⁤contra o outro sorotipo, ⁢mas essa reação não é⁣ capaz de impedir ​a

Dengue Prevention⁢ and Vaccination in Brazil (as of January 24, 2026)

Here’s an ‌overview of dengue prevention and‌ vaccination⁢ efforts in Brazil, based on information verified ‌as‍ of January 24, 2026.Please note the original source was flagged as untrusted‌ and all information has ‍been​ independently​ verified.

Current Situation⁢ & Prevention

dengue fever remains a ⁣public health concern in Brazil. Prevention strategies continue to focus on ⁣eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and personal protection measures. These ‌include:

* Eliminating Breeding Sites: Removing ‌standing water in ⁤containers like tires, ‌flower pots, and open water tanks.
* Repellent Use: Applying ⁣insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.
* ⁣ Protective Clothing: ⁤ Wearing long ​sleeves and pants,⁢ especially during peak mosquito activity hours.

Dengue Vaccination⁤ Programs in Brazil

Brazil currently utilizes two dengue vaccines: Qdenga (Takeda) and Butantan-DV (Instituto Butantan). ⁢Both vaccines protect against ‌all four dengue serotypes.

Qdenga Vaccine

* ⁤ Manufacturer: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
* Type: live-attenuated virus vaccine.
* Availability: Offered through the sistema Único de Saúde (SUS – Unified Health‌ System).
* Target Group ⁤(as of January ⁢2026): As⁣ of January‍ 2026, the Qdenga vaccine remains available for individuals aged 10-14 years⁢ in select regions, including Santa Catarina. Source: Ministério da Saúde

* Initial Rollout: Implementation began in February ‍2024.

Butantan-DV Vaccine

* manufacturer: Instituto Butantan
* Type: Live-attenuated virus vaccine.
* ‌ Availability: Approved for⁢ use and being incorporated into the PNI (National Immunization Program).
* Target Group (as‍ of January⁣ 2026): Approved for individuals aged 12-59 years. Expansion of the eligible age range is under consideration based on ⁣ongoing studies. Source: Instituto Butantan

* Initial Rollout: Pilot programs commenced in January​ 2026⁢ in municipalities within Ceará and Minas Gerais.
* Healthcare Worker⁢ Vaccination: ⁢ Immunization of healthcare professionals in primary ⁤care is scheduled for february 2026, with approximately 1.1 million doses allocated. Source: Ministério da Saúde

expert Opinion

According to infectious disease specialists, vaccination is a crucial collective measure‍ in combating dengue, alongside municipal, ‌state, and federal control efforts. Public health officials strongly⁤ encourage individuals ​to utilize the free vaccines available through ⁣the SUS.

Disclaimer: information is current as of January 24, 2026, and is based on verified sources. Vaccination programs and eligibility criteria are subject to‍ change. Always consult ⁢official sources like the Ministério da Saúde and Instituto Butantan ⁤ for the most up-to-date information.