What is the name of your organization?
World Mosquito Program
What is the name of your solution?
WMP Wolbachia Method
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
The beginning of the end: Eliminating dengue in Central America
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
France
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Australia
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
The project will work to eliminate dengue and Zika in Central America’s urban communities
by deploying Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes, benefiting children, youth, and women who
are most vulnerable to these diseases.
What is your solution?
The rising threat of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow
fever, exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and globalization, disproportionately
affects women, young people, and children. In Central America, frequent dengue outbreaks
strain healthcare systems, reduce school attendance, and burden budgets. The 2016 Zika
epidemic caused congenital infections, leaving thousands of newborns with lifelong
healthcare needs. An equitable and effective solution is urgently needed.
The World Mosquito Program (WMP) combats these diseases by introducing Wolbachia, a
naturally occurring bacterium, into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. This method significantly
reduces the mosquitoes’ ability to spread harmful viruses. Releasing Wolbachia-infected
mosquitoes into urban areas allows the bacterium to spread naturally, providing long-lasting
and self-sustaining protection. Proven safe and effective through rigorous research, this
approach stands out for its sustainability and cost-effectiveness, complementing existing
strategies.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our goal is to protect 12 million people in urban areas of eight Central American countries
and the Dominican Republic, and with future scaling an additional ~40 million more. This
will prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations and save hundreds of millions in
healthcare and economic costs. By scaling our solution, we expect to achieve long-term
interruption of dengue epidemic cycles and provide resilience against chikungunya and Zika
outbreaks within five years. WMP’s Wolbachia method is an equitable solution, particularly
benefiting vulnerable communities. Deploying this method isn’t just a health initiative—it’s a
game-changer. By reducing healthcare costs and boosting public health, we enhance
quality of life and drive social and economic stability across the region.
