Health Ministry Considers Wolbachia Method to Curb Dengue Surge

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sarder Md Sakhawat Husain announced today that the government is considering a pilot project to implement the Wolbachia method, a globally recognized biocontrol strategy, to strengthen dengue prevention efforts.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, where officials discussed a collaboration with the World Mosquito Program (WMP). This follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2025 between the WMP and the Government of Bangladesh.

During the session, Dr. Claudia Surjadjaja, WMP’s Director of Advocacy and External Relations, presented an implementation plan starting with Dhaka North. The Wolbachia method involves introducing a natural bacteria into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which prevents them from transmitting viruses like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya to humans.

Minister Husain emphasized the need for urgency as the dengue season nears. He directed officials to collaborate closely with the WMP to finalize technical and financial frameworks. The WMP reaffirmed its commitment to providing technical expertise and assisting in securing donor funding for the project.

This initiative underscores the government's shift toward evidence-based, innovative solutions to reduce the national dengue burden and enhance public health preparedness.