ISLAMABAD: A program designed to tackle dengue fever could be modified to help prevent the spread of Zika virus, Australian scientists said.
Health authorities are on alert after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Zika virus to be a global public health emergency. The mosquito-borne disease has been linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil.
Scientists in north Queensland have been working on a program to stop the transmission of dengue, which is carried by the Aedes Aegypti, the same mosquito which can carry the Zika virus.
That mosquito is prevalent in north Queensland, but no cases of Zika virus have been contracted locally.
Millions of mosquitoes infected with the wolbachia bacteria were released in suburbs of Townsville and Cairns in 2014. Trials are currently underway in Townsville, Cairns, Vietnam, Columbia and Brazil.
In Townsville, cases of dengue fever dropped dramatically in 2015 and there was no local outbreaks in a 12-month period.
Professor Scott O’Neill from Eliminate Dengue said the program in north Queensland could be modified to prevent the spread of Zika. He said the wolbachia bacteria could stop the transmission of other diseases.
“That includes dengue, yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya,” he said. “Our trials are well positioned to measure Zika and dengue at the same time.”
Professor O’Neill said the latest outbreak of Zika virus had prompted talks about expanding its project in South America.
