World Mosquito Program (WMP)

What does dengue prevention look like on a Tuesday in Vientiane? Teaser from our latest video, showing the second phase of implementation in Laos, building on the 2023 pilot. Full video on Monday. Supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative. @AmbGlobalHealth @AusAmbLaos @SavetheChildren #WeWelcomeWolbachia #DrivingDownDengueInLaos #Laos #Dengue

Empowering women in science strengthens us all. On this #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience, I'm reminded of my visit to the Drive Down Dengue project in Laos, where the Wolbachia method is helping keep communities safer and gender equality is central to the work.

Luciano Moreira, Special Advisor to the World Mosquito Program has been named to TIME’s 2026 #TIME100Health list. The recognition reflects sustained scientific leadership and public health work to scale evidence-based approaches to mosquito-borne disease prevention. Full list: time.com/time100health @TIME #time100health

Her story ↓ worldmosquitoprogram.org/news-stories/J… 2/2

"I got dengue... it was a very tough experience." Tamila Kleine lost friends to dengue in Joinville, Brazil. Now she's leading the fight back using our Wolbachia method. "Working with the Wolbachia method has been extremely rewarding." 1/2

This #Aedesaegypti mosquito thrives in cities - and that insight changes everything. By understanding how these mosquitoes live alongside people, WMP helps cities move from reacting to outbreaks to preventing them altogether. #PublicHealth #Dengue #RedefinePossible

Um grande motivo de orgulho para a ciência brasileira. O pesquisador Luciano Moreira entrou na lista das dez pessoas que mais ajudaram a transformar o mundo científico em 2025. O reconhecimento veio da revista Nature, uma das mais prestigiadas publicações acadêmicas do mundo. Luciano Moreira é pesquisador da Fiocruz e comanda, em Curitiba, uma biofábrica que produz diariamente milhões de ovos de mosquitos incapazes de transmitir dengue, zika e chikungunya. Esses mosquitos são depois levados à natureza e, ao reproduzirem com outros mosquitos, geram insetos inofensivos à saúde humana. Em algumas cidades brasileiras onde essa tecnologia está sendo usada, os casos de dengue caíram expressivamente. Isso só é possível porque contamos com instituições de renome internacional, como a Fiocruz. Com investimentos sólidos em ciência e forte cooperação em pesquisa. E com pesquisadores comprometidos como Luciano Moreira.

More than half the world's population is now at risk from a single disease. #Dengue is spreading faster than any other mosquito-borne illness, which is why our #Wolbachia method is critical for protecting communities worldwide. #FunFactFriday

Read the article here: worldmosquitoprogram.org/Luciano_Moreir… 2/2

"Mosquitoes were first produced in a kind of artisanal way in a tiny, heated room." From that to 5B mosquitoes/year: our Q&A with newly recognised @Nature scientist Luciano Moreira on scaling #Wolbachia in Brazil. 1/2

He convinced officials to release billions of mosquitoes. Result: 89% #dengue reduction in Niterói. We are so proud to see Luciano Moreira's work recognised by @Nature @wolbitodobrasil

He convinced officials to release billions of mosquitoes. Result: 89% #dengue reduction. Now @Nature names him one of 2025's most influential scientists. Read Luciano Moreira's Nature profile: nature.com/articles/d4158…

Learn more about our #Wolbachia method here: worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/work/wolbac… 2/2

When mosquitoes carry Wolbachia, they can't transmit dengue, #Zika or #chikungunya. Natural protection that's self-sustaining. Evidence: 77% #dengue reduction (Indonesia), 20-year low (Colombia), decade of protection (Australia). 1/2

Mosquitoes can hibernate when temperatures drop below 10°C – females lay eggs that stay dormant until warmer weather arrives. Our #Wolbachia method works with these natural survival strategies to protect communities from #dengue, #Zika & #chikungunya. #funfactfriday

Ever wondered why mosquito bites itch? When they bite, mosquitoes inject saliva that stops your blood from clotting. Your body releases histamine in response, causing that familiar itch. Our #Wolbachia method helps block these mosquitoes from transmitting #dengue, Zika & #chikungunya. #funfactfriday

You can learn more about our work in #Kiribati here: worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/news-storie…

The best partnerships are built on shared commitment and scientific rigour. Last week we welcomed Kiribati's Minister for Health, Hon. Bootii Nauan, and senior officials from @dfat to our Melbourne labs as we expand our #Wolbachia method across South Tarawa. #Kiribati #dengue 1/2

Did you know mosquitoes appeared 220 million years ago & outlasted the dinosaurs? 🦕🦟 Our Wolbachia method works WITH nature to protect communities from dengue, Zika & chikungunya – by working with mosquitoes, not against them. #funfactfriday #mosquitofacts #wolbachia #dengue

Did you know mosquitoes live less than two months? Males live just 10 days, whilst females can live up to 8 weeks. Our #Wolbachia method uses this: females pass the bacteria to every generation, creating self-sustaining protection. One deployment. Decades of impact. #FunFactFriday #DidYouKnow