Why This Technology?

• Historically Ae. aegypti is the primary vector for the arboviruses that cause human dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, diseases du to Zika viruswhich are found throughout most tropical to subtropical world regions. Recent studies on Ae. aegypti mosquito population spread and occurrence of dengue epidemics from many parts of the world declared dengue as a disease of prime importance at par with malaria. The treatment for dengue is only life-supportive in nature as there is a lack of a specific antiviral drug or vaccine or prophylactic treatment.
• Although conventional control methods are effective enough at reducing large populations, they are difficult to bring the population below disease transmission level. Moreover a small population of vector species in a given locality is potential for effective transmission of dengue virus in the community/locality. In the OX513A friendly Aedes aegypti technology male mosquitoes will tend to disperse themselves and seek out wild females without human intervention (unlike chemical insecticides, for example). This is particularly helpful where control program personnel lack ready access to some areas, for example, private property. Indeed integration of the OX513A friendly Aedes aegypti technology along with the other techniques such as insecticide spraying (IRS – Indoor Residual Spray; Outdoor spraying; LLIN Long Lasting Insecticide treated Nets), fumigation, managing breeding places etc. can bring the target population below disease transmitting threshold level.