Introduction of a new method to combat dengue in Joinville is scheduled for July

Niterói saw a 69% drop in dengue cases in two years after implementing the method (Photo: Patrick Rodrigues, NSC Total Archive)

The Wolbachia method, which has been implemented in Joinville since December 2023, reaches a new phase. Since last April, the work has entered the Community Engagement stage with the beginning of actions to publicize the new methodology. This is the last phase before the release of mosquitoes begins, scheduled to take place in July.

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The method strategy consists of introducing the Wolbachia bacteria into Aedes aegypti. This bacteria is present in 60% of insects in nature and does not cause harm to humans, but prevents the dengue mosquito from proliferating dengue, chikungunya and Zika.

Free medical course is a topic of debate at the Joinville Chamber

Mosquitoes with the bacteria, called Wolbitos, will be released in Joinville, will reproduce with local Aedes aegypti and, little by little, will establish a new population of mosquitoes that do not transmit dengue fever and other diseases. This is how Niterói saw a 69% drop in dengue cases in two years. And in Australia, where it was created, there was a 96% reduction in dengue cases.

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More about dengue in Joinville

As of May 3, Joinville had more than 21,000 cases of dengue fever, according to city hall data (Photo: Image bank)

The government of Santa Catarina declared a public health emergency (Photo: Thomas Braga NSCTV)

The State already records 222.5 thousand probable cases of dengue in 2024. Data is up to May 3 (Photo: Thomas Braga NSCTV)

138 deaths from the disease were also confirmed in SC (Photo: Thomas Braga NSCTV)

Joinville and Itajaí have the most cases of deaths with 24 and 26 deaths, respectively. Data is up to May 3rd (Photo: Joinville City Hall, Disclosure)

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The choice of neighborhoods that will receive the release of Wolbitos considers criteria such as the number of outbreaks and confirmed cases. The neighborhoods make up approximately 60% of Joinville’s population, they are: Aventureiro; Good view; Bom Retiro; Comasa; Costa e Silva; Hawthorns; Fatima; Forest; Guanabara; Iririú; Itaum; João Costa; Middle Hill; Paranaguamirim; Petrópolis; Ulysses Guimarães; and Vila Nova.

— We have worked for a long time to bring this method to Joinville and we are working to guarantee all the necessary structure and support from the City Hall so that the project has the same success that we have seen in other places in Brazil and the world. Wolbachia is another weapon against Dengue and the population must continue to do their part, eliminating pockets of stagnant water — highlights the mayor of Joinville, Adriano Silva.

The Community Engagement stage also includes communication actions and a survey, already carried out in Joinville, in which more than 80% of respondents approved the use of the method in the city. These initiatives focus on the 17 neighborhoods where the release of the Wolbitos will take place. After release, the sites will be monitored to evaluate results for approximately one year.

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“The Wolbachia method brings health to the population, so the population is already a natural part of the process. Through the community engagement and communication activities that we are developing in this stage of the project, we hope that the population can learn about the method and understand how it works. The Wolbachia Method is an innovation, and we work by releasing mosquitoes. It is important that the entire population knows how our Wolbitos will help reduce the transmission of arboviruses”, explains WMP Brasil operations leader, Gabriel Sylvestre.

In addition to the Engagement actions, the installation of a biofactory is also taking place in Joinville. The structure, which will be the most technological in the country, is under construction and in a deactivated health unit, which would be demolished, in the Nova Brasília neighborhood. The site will produce Wolbitos mosquitoes that will be used in the releases.

About the Wolbachia method

In addition to Joinville, five other cities are receiving the method at this stage: Londrina and Foz do Iguaçu (PR); Uberlândia (MG); Presidente Prudente (SP) and Natal (RN). In previous stages, the technology has already been applied in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói (RJ), Campo Grande (MS), Belo Horizonte (MG) and Petrolina (PE).

This method of controlling arboviruses was developed by the World Mosquito Program (WMP), in Australia, and is currently present in more than 20 cities in 14 countries. Furthermore, monitoring data reveals that Wolbitos are establishing themselves at very good levels in the territories.

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Wolbachia is a complementary measure. The population must continue to take all actions to control dengue, Zika and chikungunya, advises Joinville city hall.