Timor releases 8,000 mosquitoes in Dili to combat dengue fever

The Timorese government, with the support of Menzies, an Australian health research school, began releasing mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria this Friday to reduce the number of dengue cases in Dili, the country's capital.

Mosquitoes infected with Woldbachia will breed with local mosquitoes, creating a population of insects carrying that bacteria, which reduces the transmission of dengue , chikungunya and Zika.

"Today was the initial launch, and we only released a small number of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes. But starting August 11th, we will begin widespread releases of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in communities throughout the municipality of Dili, totaling eight thousand ," said José dos Reis Magno, Deputy Minister of Health for Institutional Strengthening, after the launch at Largo Lecidere in Dili.

The World Mosquito Program Wolbachia (WMP) will initially be implemented in the municipality of Dili, specifically in four administrative posts — Dom Aleixo, Vera Cruz, Nain Feto, and Cristo Rei — which record the highest number of dengue cases.

José dos Reis Magno emphasized that the objective of this mosquito release is to replace wild mosquitoes with mosquitoes with Wolbachia, in order to reduce dengue cases in the country's capital.

“We all know that in recent years, dengue cases have increased significantly, resulting in many deaths, especially among our children,” the minister recalled.

Data from the Ministry of Health indicates that Timor-Leste has recorded a sharp increase in dengue cases since 2022, with more than 5,600 reported infections and 58 deaths related to the disease.

In 2025 (between January and July), 909 cases and seven deaths related to dengue were recorded across the country.

"The new Wolbachia method is very good and highly effective. It has already been successfully implemented in several countries, including our neighbors, Indonesia and Australia, and has shown positive results," the official reinforced.

"I guarantee and believe that this method will help reduce dengue cases in Timor-Leste," said the minister.

José dos Reis Magno also emphasized that, after the release of mosquitoes with Wolbachia, the Timorese government will conduct monitoring and evaluation for six months to analyze the results.

Nelson Martins, senior technical advisor at Menzies Timor-Leste, said the institution is committed to working with the Ministry of Health to strengthen clinical, laboratory, and surveillance capacity.

"As a senior researcher at Menzies Timor-Leste, I believe the Wolbachia method is an evidence-based approach that is effective in reducing dengue cases. I encourage all sectors to join forces to combat dengue through biological control with Wolbachia," Martins stated.

The World Mosquito Program Wolbachia method has already been successfully implemented and protects around 13 million people worldwide against dengue fever .