The mosquito factory set up by an entomologist and other scientists in China is continuing its quest to find a way to prevent the spread of mosquito-caused diseases rather than formulating a Zika Virus cure. Set up in 2012, the mosquito-breeding island is reportedly producing more "good" mosquitos to combat those that are not.
Zhiong Xi, a researcher from the Michigan State University, has set up a three-kilometer long island in China to breed mosquitos that can stop the growth of the disease-causing insects. Initiated to research on possible ways to stop the spread of Zika virus along with other dengue epidemic, the island is now capable of breeding up to five million mosquitos every week.
The island situated in the science campus of Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangdo is housing up to 6,000 mosquito larvae according to CNN. As per report, the 3,500 square feet laboratory is breeding a particular mosquito specie attacking Asia.
Scientists reveal how they plan to eliminate mosquitos that are spreading diseases as it is still impossible to come up with a perfect Zika virus cure. Male insects were reportedly injected with the Wolbachia bacteria which prevents the mosquito from transmitting Zika or dengue, making the insect sterile. Furthermore, eggs from a sterile male mosquito who mates with a female from the wild will not hatch, preventing growth of the virus-causing species and the spread of the virus.
It can be recalled that the Zika virus outbreak started in 2015 by a mosquito in Brazil, which spread rapidly through South and North America up to the Southeast Asia. NPR previously revealed how the virus can affect the brain development of growing babies inside an infected mother. Prior to the Zika virus outbreak, dengue has caused millions of deaths also caused by another species of mosquitos.
Following the high risk brought about by dengue and Zika virus, the China mosquito factory is aiming to solidify the remedy they found to prevent another outbreak in the future. While Zika virus cure and dengue treatment are not yet fully dependable these days, experts are looking forward to the success of the experiment which reportedly can save millions more of lives throughout nations.
