- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed a strain of the Aedes aegypti mosquito into which Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria, is introduced.
- The mosquito variant has been named the Puducherry strain. It was developed by ICMR in collaboration with World Mosquito Program of Monash University, Australia.
- Wolbachia bacteria is introduced into male and female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the laboratory and released into the wild. Once Wolbachia carrying mosquitoes are released, they breed with wild mosquitoes.
- Over time, the majority of mosquitoes carry Wolbachia. These mosquitoes have a reduced ability to transmit viruses to people. Thus, it reduces the risk of Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever outbreaks.
- Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the primary vector that transmit the Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses.
