Innovative Mosquito Farm in Medellín: An Ally Against Dengue and Other Diseases

In 2024, Medellín, Colombia, positions itself as a global leader in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases. An innovative mosquito farm, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and part of the World Mosquito Program (WMP), produces approximately 30 million Aedes aegypti mosquitoes per week. But these are not ordinary mosquitoes: they carry a revolutionary solution to combat dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

The Challenge of Mosquito-Borne Diseases

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector for these viral diseases, which affect millions in tropical and subtropical regions. In Medellín, dengue outbreaks in 2010 and 2016 impacted over 35,000 people, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and effective solutions.

The World Mosquito Program's Strategy

The WMP’s strategy is both ingenious and natural: infect mosquitoes with the Wolbachia bacteria, which occurs naturally in many insects but not in Aedes aegypti. This bacterium reduces the mosquito's ability to transmit viruses to humans. By releasing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into the environment, they mate with local populations, spreading the bacteria and dramatically reducing disease transmission.

Results in Medellín: An Impressive Reduction

Since its implementation in 2017, the project has achieved a 95-97% reduction in the incidence of dengue in the Aburrá Valley. These results position Medellín as an international model for applying this technique, with unprecedented success in Latin America.

Expanding the Project to Cali

In Cali, the Wolbachia method was implemented in 2020, benefiting over 1.6 million residents in 18 districts as of December 2024. Currently, the program's fourth phase continues releasing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, further consolidating its impact in reducing dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

Benefits of the Wolbachia Method

1. Disease Reduction: Significantly reduces virus transmission, protecting vulnerable communities.
2. Environmental Sustainability: A natural biological solution that avoids excessive insecticide use, preserving ecological balance.
3. Community Engagement: Community acceptance and participation are essential to the program’s success, promoting education and civic commitment.

Future Perspectives

The success in Medellín and Cali has driven the expansion of the Wolbachia method to other regions in Colombia and Latin America. Through continuous evaluation and adaptation, the strategy aims to improve its effectiveness and benefit millions of people in communities affected by these diseases.

The mosquito farm in Medellín, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, not only represents a scientific breakthrough but also a sustainable and effective model for global public health. By leveraging the natural biology of insects and the power of international collaboration, this initiative is transforming the fight against mosquito-borne diseases, improving the quality of life for thousands of people in Colombia and beyond.