Foz City Hall reinforces efforts to combat dengue fever 

Management intensifies actions to expand the Wolbachia method, which already covers 50% of the municipality's territory; project has support from the Ministry of Health

In an important step in the fight against dengue fever, the municipality received a technical team from the Ministry of Health. The meeting aimed to strengthen surveillance actions, reorganize health services and expand assistance to the population. The meeting took place on Wednesday (15).

The biggest highlight was the expansion of the Wolbachia method, a scientific innovation that covers 50% of the municipal territory, with the release of the wolbites expected to be completed by April. This method consists of introducing the Wolbachia bacteria into female mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti. Thus, the bacteria prevents the mosquito from transmitting the dengue virus, zika e chikungunya

Advances in coverage

Since August 2024, mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, known as wolbitos, have been released in priority areas of Foz do Iguaçu. According to Diogo Chalegre, head of institutional relations at Fiocruz, the 50% coverage already brings encouraging results. 

“We are discussing with the Municipal Health Department the extension of the releases to cover 100% of the city. The greater the presence of wolbitos in the territory, the greater the impact on reducing the transmission of arboviruses,” explained Chalegre. The cases in Foz and other municipalities in the state are examples of success for expanding the method at a national level. 

Strategic reference

Rivaldo Venâncio da Cunha, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Health, highlighted the relevance of Foz do Iguaçu, emphasizing the high tourist flow in the region and the importance of differentiated approaches.

“The experience in Foz is a model that can inspire other locations in Brazil,” he said. The method adopted, according to Rivaldo, changes the paradigm of combating Aedes aegypti. “Wolbachia is already present in 60% of mosquitoes in nature and poses no risk to health or the environment,” he assured.

Although the preliminary results are positive, the full effect depends on the transmission of the bacteria to future generations of mosquitoes. “It is a self-sustainable method that will bring lasting positive impacts,” he concluded.

Partnerships

The municipal health secretary, Fabio de Mello, highlighted the collaboration between the municipality, the government of Paraná, the Ministry of Health and Itaipu Binacional. “This meeting reflects the efforts of Mayor Silva e Luna’s administration to control dengue fever,” he said. 

Mello recalled that the project began as a research project and expressed the desire to expand the initiative to the entire territory of Foz do Iguaçu. “By expanding it to the entire municipality, we hope to see a significant reduction in dengue cases and improve the quality of life of the population.”

The presence of the Ministry of Health's technical team reinforces the commitment to address health challenges with innovation and scientific evidence. The goal of covering 100% of Foz with the Wolbachia method positions the city as a national reference in the fight against arboviruses.

Do you read H2 daily? Subscribe to the portal and help strengthen journalism!
READ TOO

Comments are closed.