The World Mosquito Program is working in Bali to protect communities from mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever.
In 2023, the World Mosquito Program began work in both Denpasar and Buleleng, in Bali, to combat the growing threat of mosquito-borne diseases. The World Mosquito Program (WMP) and the Balinese Government, with the support of the Australian Government and the Gillespie Family Foundation, have joined forces to “dengue-proof” Bali by using the WMP's Wolbachia technology. For decades, dengue has been taking its toll on Bali’s people, health system and economy. In 2020, Bali, of all Indonesian provinces, had the highest dengue incidence with some 270 cases per 100,000 people.
WMP has been working in Indonesia since 2014, protecting nearly two million people from dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases in Yogyakarta and across neighbouring Sleman and Bantul districts. The results of WMP’s 2018-2020 gold-standard trial in Yogyakarta provided conclusive evidence that WMP's Wolbachia works.
WMP and its partners – the Ministry of Health Indonesia and the Government of Bali, with the support of the local communities – will start with Wolbachia mosquito releases in areas hardest hit by dengue in Denpasar province, in the south, and in Buleleng, in the north. The initial releases will benefit about one million people.
Awareness raising about WMP's Wolbachia with the local communities and preparations for mosquito releases will start in mid 2023. It is hoped that further releases will be possible in all areas of Bali, between 2023-2025, to protect nearly three million people from dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
A 2020 study predicted that the deployment of Wolbachia mosquitoes for dengue control would be a cost-effective intervention in Bali. Based on that modelling, the Wolbachia mosquito releases in Denpasar and Bulelung are expected to avert around 35,000 dengue cases every year and more than half a million cases - including 80,000 hospitalisations - over 15 years. This translates into expected savings of about US$ 25 million in healthcare costs over 15 years, based on the estimated cost of dengue illness in Indonesia.
Progress updates
We’ve been working with communities in Indonesia since 2012 to help prevent mosquito-borne diseases. Read our progress updates to see our latest news.