Hope to wipe out deadly mozzies

SCIENTISTS will look to replicate a successful trial that sterilises dengue mosquitoes with mozzie species that are capable of carrying the disease further south.

A landmark study, involving the CSIRO, Google affiliate Verily and James Cook University, resulted in 80 per cent of dengue mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) being wiped out in three locations around Innisfail.

The Debug Project involved releasing three million sterilised male mozzies into the local population of bloodsucking insects to prevent the species from breeding.

Study leader Dr Nigel Beebe said with the project proving a success, they were now eyeing the far more dangerous Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which is capable of carrying dengue fever and other mozzie-borne diseases further south than Aedes aegypti.

“This technology is fantastic for the dengue mosquito, but we also want to do it for the Asian tiger mosquito, which is in the Torres Strait since 2005,” he said. “We don’t want this mosquito on the mainland.”

CSIRO health and biosecurity director Dr Rob Grenfell said the project, which is to be rolled out in a yet-to-be-decided location, could result in more scientists being employed in the Far North.

“The future success of this will require a local workforce,” he said.

Picture: BRENDAN RADKE BUZZING: Director of Health and Biosecurity at CSIRO Rob Grenfell and JCU research fellow Kyran Staunton hope a trial which wiped out mosquitoes at Innisfail can be expanded.