Why Can’t We Eliminate Mosquitoes?

Species of mosquitoes spread diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, West Nile and yellow fever. Each year, more than one million people die from these diseases.

Eliminating mosquitoes is not an easy task, however. Mosquitoes are a vital part of many ecosystems. They serve as pollinators, feeding on flowers and plants. Currently, there are over 3,500 species of mosquito in the world. However, only 200 species bite humans.

Aedes aegypti is one of the world’s most deadly mosquitoes, and is believed to carry Zika and Dengue viruses. Scientists at Oxford University have genetically modified the males of this species so they can’t reproduce. This results in an estimated 96 percent reduction in mosquitoes.

In addition to carrying Zika and Dengue, Aedes aegypti also spreads Chikungunya and West Nile. The elimination of Aedes would reduce the burden on health systems and save lives.

Aedes albopictus, the species that spreads many of the same diseases as Aedes aegypti, arrived in the Western Hemisphere from the shipment of tires. It spread in warm climates, and has a complicated life cycle.

Genetically modified mosquitoes have shown some success in field trials. However, there are many complications with the production of sterilized mosquitoes. They may outcompete less healthy mosquitoes. The large scale production of sterilized mosquitoes may not be possible.

A more realistic approach to reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases is the Eliminate Dengue program. Using naturally occurring bacteria, the program reduces the ability of mosquitoes to transmit dengue fever.

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