The Dengue Out Program is using the World Mosquito Program's successful Wolbachia method in a collaboration between the Tropical Public Health Service the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council and the World Mosquito Program.

The Dengue Out Program team is delivering Mozzie Boxes to the community for the next 8-12 weeks. Each Mozzie Box contains Wolbachia mosquito eggs and food. Water is added and the Mozzie Box is placed in a shady spot in the yard until the mosquitoes hatch and fly away.

After hatching, the Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes breed with local mosquitoes. Over time, the proportion of mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia grows until it remains high without the need for further releases. Mosquitoes that carry safe and natural Wolbachia bacteria have a reduced ability to transmit dengue, Zika, chikungunya or yellow fever to people, reducing disease outbreaks.

The Dengue Out Program team has been engaging with local groups and individuals to raise awareness about the project and has received an overwhelming level of support. Locals can now expect to see the team working in residential areas in Injinoo, Umagico, New Mapoon, Seisia and Bamaga.

The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council Mayor, Edward Newman, says they are proud to be the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to host the Dengue Out Program.

“Diseases like dengue pose a threat to our way of life here on the Cape, and the Dengue Out Program provides a potential solution that requires little more than our encouragement and support,” Mayor Newman says.

To contact the Dengue Out Program team email cedengueout@gmail.com or call 1800 DENGUE.

Learn more about the World Mosquito Program’s Wolbachia method.