Wolbachia: a possible weapon for controlling dengue in Nepal

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Sujan Khadka, Ram Proshad, Alina Thapa, Krishna Prasad Acharya, Tapos Kormoker
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020
• Subjects: Dengue; Dengue control; Nepal; Outbreak; Wolbachia; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Global warming
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-020-00237-4; https://doaj.org/article/20bbd15be5834d0fae4fa618d2e66003

Abstract Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infectious disease, causes a high morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In Nepal, the first case of dengue was reported in 2004 followed by frequent outbreaks in subsequent years, with the largest being in 2019 taking the death toll of six. It is reported that the number of dengue fever cases are soaring in Nepal spreading from the plains to more hilly regions. This might have serious public health implications in the future when combined with other factors, such as: global warming, lack of early detection and treatment of dengue, lack of diagnostic facilities, poor healthcare systems and mosquito control strategies. Nepal, thus, needs a cost-effective mosquito control strategy for the prevention and control of dengue. The Wolbachia-mediated biological method of the dengue control strategy is novel, economic, and environment-friendly. It has been successfully trialed in several areas of dengue-prone countries of the world, including Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam etc. resulting in significant reductions in dengue incidence. Given the lack of effective vector control strategy and weak economic condition of the country along with the persistence of climate and environment conditions that favors the host (Aedes mosquito) for Wolbachia, this approach can be a promising option to control dengue in Nepal.