The World Mosquito Program is working in Suva and surrounding areas to protect communities from mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
After conducting laboratory studies to examine the impact of Wolbachia on dengue and chikungunya viruses in Fiji, and engaging with the community to explain our Wolbachia method and gain their acceptance, we released Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes across the Lami, Suva, Nakasi corridor in 2018–19.
We are now rigorously evaluating both the levels of Wolbachia in the mosquito population and the impact of Wolbachia on the transmission of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
From mid-2020, 12 months after the completion of releases, we’ll be able to use disease surveillance data to assess the impact of our program on the health of the community.
Following the signing of the project agreement in 2017 between Monash University and the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the project has worked with the community to explain how the Wolbachia method works to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
We’ve been working with communities in Fiji since 2017 to help prevent mosquito-borne diseases. Read our progress updates to learn more.