SUMMARY
- The World Mosquito Program is tackling the threat of dengue and other diseases by releasing engineered mosquitoes into the wild in Colombia.
- The Medellín facility is the world's largest mosquito breeding ground, producing 30 million mosquitoes per week to combat the disease spread.
- Innovative release methods, including drones and distributing egg-filled capsules to locals, aid in the fast and effective dispersion of these beneficial mosquitoes.
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/9596329/736511_283165.png)
In the heart of Medellín, Colombia, a story unfolds in an inconspicuous two-story brick edifice. Here, a legion of devoted scientists are at work, day and night, in sweltering labs, producing multitudes of mosquitoes. From their first moments as larvae, through their pupae phase, until they reach adulthood, the scientists ensure their every need is met - ideal temperatures, lavish meals of fishmeal, sugar, and the essential ingredient: blood.
However, contrary to the premise of a grim horror tale, these mosquitoes serve a lifesaving purpose. Upon their release into the wild, they interbreed with native mosquitoes - the carriers of detrimental viruses such as dengue that hold potential to wreak havoc on the Colombian populace. Instead of inciting terror, these genetically engineered mosquitoes stand as a beacon of hope for millions.
Directed by the World Mosquito Program, the goal is to disperse Wolbachia, a bacterium, within the Aedes aegypti mosquito population - notorious vectors for dengue, yellow fever, among other diseases. This effort is amplified due to the reality of climate change. As temperatures escalate globally, these mosquitoes find an increasing number of regions suitable for their habitation, causing a spike in the spread of the aforementioned diseases.
Driven by a growing demand for these beneficial mosquitoes, the World Mosquito Program has amped up their production, resulting in the Medellín facility becoming the world's largest mosquito breeding unit. Their weekly output? A staggering thirty million mosquitoes. Though other global sites are also partaking in this unique endeavor, Colombia's facility remains unparalleled in scale.
At the core of this colossal operation lies the brood stock, the ancestral line of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. From these parent mosquitoes, millions of eggs are produced, eventually maturing into adult mosquitoes. After the birth of these insects, they're dispatched to battle the dangerous diseases looming over Colombian communities. What's more, the innovative methods for release include dispersing gelatin capsules filled with eggs to local inhabitants, and drones releasing adults into the wild, making it even more effective.
WOM Money Picks
Be a part of the winning team | 81% Success Rate.