Transitioning the WMP Wolbachia method for arbovirus control to sustainable scale

Approximately 40% of the global human population is at risk of acquiring a virus transmitted by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito this year. These viruses cause diseases known as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. Infection can result in death, but in less extreme manifestations it can result in horrific birth abnormalities in babies, extended periods of illness and hospitalisation, loss of income through an inability to work, and disruption of the health system through inundation with people seeking urgent care during outbreaks. Sadly, there are no effective and safe drugs or vaccines available, nor effective methods for controlling the mosquito. As a result the disease burden is climbing year on year. We have found that introducing a natural insect bacterium (Wolbachia) into wild mosquito populations can eliminate the ability of mosquitoes to transmit all of these viruses between people. We have shown this method to be highly efficacious and has the potential to lead to disease elimination. Our goal now is to optimise the remaining technical areas that constrain scaling and to help to build the capacity and undertake the knowledge transfer that will make the intervention available to the billions of people that need it.