What is the relationship between Bill Gates and a Colombian laboratory that produces 30 million mosquitoes per week?

Through his foundation, Bill Gates promotes a significant initiative linked to mosquitoes Aedes aegypti.

We are talking about a factory located in Medellín, Colombia capable of producing more than 30 million of these insects per week.

Several hours a day, the scientists involved in the project are responsible for developing mosquitoes genetically modified with Wolbachia bacteria and ensuring that they are in optimal conditions. Later, they are released outside so they can join wild mosquitoes, explains Gates himself. on your blog .

But what is the goal of this initiative?

Although the initiative promoted by the founder of Microsoft may seem a little scary, the truth is that it has a very clear objective: to protect human beings from diseases.

By nature, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can transmit dengue and other viruses like Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. Wolbachia, the bacteria found in genetically modified mosquitoes, is able to prevent the transmission of these diseases to humans.

“By releasing them to breed with wild mosquitoes, they spread the bacteria, reduce transmission of the virus and protect millions of people from disease,” says Gates.

This whole process takes place within the framework of World Mosquito Program (WMP) , which is financially supported by the Bill Gates Foundation. Although it currently operates in 14 countries in total, the Colombian hatchery is the largest in the world.

According to what is indicated in the WMP website The Medellín region has a long history with the viruses these insects can transmit, with “dengue outbreaks in 2010 and 2016 that affected more than 35,000 people.”

Following an agreement between Monash University and the Colombian government, Medellín managed to join the project in 2016 and a year later the modified mosquitoes began to be officially released. “The incidence of dengue fever in the Aburrá Valley is 95-97% lower since the establishment of Wolbachia,” they detail.

From Gates’ point of view, the phenomenon of climate change makes this initiative urgent to expand to other countries. , especially in those with the presence of Aedes aegypti, who are at greater risk of suffering from viral infections transmitted by the insect. The danger is even greater with dengue, considering that in recent years its incidence has increased throughout the world.

“It is exciting to see how far the Global Mosquito Program has come. Years ago, the idea of ​​releasing mosquitoes as allies in the fight against disease seemed crazy to many people. But support for this innovative solution has gained traction in communities around the world. These incredible mosquitoes are taking flight and saving lives,” says the Microsoft founder.