The World Mosquito Program is a not-for-profit initiative that’s protecting communities around the world from mosquito-borne diseases. Pioneered by Australian researchers at Monash University, we use safe and natural bacteria called Wolbachia to reduce the number of people contracting mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
Thanks to a tiny bacterium called Wolbachia, together we can do incredible things. Using our groundbreaking research, we’ve created a way to block the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
By breeding mosquitoes that carry safe and natural Wolbachia bacteria, we can effectively prevent diseases from spreading in whole cities and even regions. Our evidence shows that in areas where Wolbachia is self-sustaining at a high level, there have been no dengue outbreaks.
Wolbachia is introduced intoa mosquito egg
Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoesare released
Wolbachia spreads naturally
We’re collaborating with communities around the world to reduce the threat of mosquito-borne diseases.
The World Mosquito Program partners closely with community groups and local health officials in the areas where we work. We collaborate with communities and ensure they are comfortable with our approach before releasing Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes.
Within just a few minutes, my arm swelled up with dozens of bites. It was a small price to pay for an amazing project that has the potential to turn the tide against a terrible disease.
Bill Gates
Our story began with a tiny bacterium called Wolbachia. Using Wolbachia, we have pioneered a way to provide mosquito-borne disease protection. In fewer than 10 years, we have expanded from our pilot site in Australia to work in 12 countries around the world.
We discover that Wolbachia prevents dengue transmission when carried by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
We start releasing Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in Cairns, Northern Australia
Wolbachia is successfully established and self-sustaining, with no local dengue transmissions
-
View our progressGlobal progress
India
We’re working with local communities in India to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Sri Lanka
We’re working with local communities in Sri Lanka to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Vietnam
We’re working with local communities in Vietnam to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Indonesia
We’re working with local communities in Indonesia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Australia
We’re working with local communities in Australia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
New Caledonia
We’re working with local communities in New Caledonia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
VanuatuGlobal progress
Vanuatu
We’re working with local communities in Vanuatu to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Fiji
We’re working with local communities in Fiji to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Kiribati
We’re working with local communities in Kiribati to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Mexico
We’re working with local communities in Mexico to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Colombia
We’re working with local communities in Colombia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Brazil
We’re working with local communities in Brazil to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
India
We’re working with local communities in India to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Sri Lanka
We’re working with local communities in Sri Lanka to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Vietnam
We’re working with local communities in Vietnam to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Indonesia
We’re working with local communities in Indonesia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Australia
We’re working with local communities in Australia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
New Caledonia
We’re working with local communities in New Caledonia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
VanuatuGlobal progress
Vanuatu
We’re working with local communities in Vanuatu to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Fiji
We’re working with local communities in Fiji to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Kiribati
We’re working with local communities in Kiribati to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Mexico
We’re working with local communities in Mexico to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Colombia
We’re working with local communities in Colombia to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
View our progressGlobal progress
Brazil
We’re working with local communities in Brazil to reduce the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.
-
Target population 616,536Release sites 2Project status Community engagement -
Target population 214,835Release sites 25Project status Community engagement -
Target population 15,670Release sites 2Project status Monitoring -
Target population 242,666Release sites 6Project status Post-release monitoring -
Target population 312,183Release sites 7Project status Post-release monitoring -
Target population 99,945Release sites 5Project status Community engagement -
Target population 53,999Release sites 12Project status Monitoring -
Target population 273,900Release sites 23Project status Monitoring -
Target population 36,961Release sites 2Project status Monitoring -
Target population 253,840Release sites 1Project status Releasing mosquitoes -
Target population 3,492,693Release sites 30Project status No dengue outbreaks in Wolbachia treated areas of city-wide deployments. -
Target population 1,264,890Release sites 2Project status Preliminary results of city-wide deployments indicate dengue decrease
When we release Wolbachia mosquitoes into a community, it’s crucial we have the support of the people who live there. So when a community leader in Narewa Village, Fiji, told us he felt like we were ‘releasing hope’ we could not have been happier. This is our ultimate goal. To free people from the fear and suffering caused by mosquito-borne disease.
Sustainable projects
The World Mosquito Program's method of reducing mosquito-borne diseases is natural and self-sustaining.
It’s unique because it usually only needs to be applied once to be effective. This makes it a sustainable, affordable and long-term solution to mosquito-borne diseases.
What's new
Establishment of wMel Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and reduction of local dengue transmission in Cairns and surrounding locations in northern Queensland, Australia
View details
Pluripotency of Wolbachia against Arbovirus: the case of yellow fever
View details
The impact of large-scale deployment of Wolbachia mosquitoes on arboviral disease incidence in Rio de Janeiro and Niterói‚ Brazil: study protocol for a controlled interrupted time series analysis using routine disease surveillance data
View details
Modifying Insect Population Age Structure to Control Vector-Borne Disease. In: Aksoy S‚ ed.
View details
Predicting the age of mosquitoes using transcriptional profiles.
View details