Project Description
World Mosquito Program Yogyakarta
World Mosquito Program Yogyakarta (WMPY) is undoubtedly a breakthrough in Indonesia’s dengue study. Since 2021, this project has been in the global spotlight for its outstanding 11 year research result. Local to international media shared its success and prestigious awards received. The World Mosquito Program Yogyakarta’s accomplishments are indeed written as one of the public health achievements in eliminating dengue.
In short, the WMPY is a collaborative study to protect people from mosquito-transmitted diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and zika. Wolbachia is bacteria found in half of the insect species but Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. We found that it is difficult for viruses to multiply in mosquito species that carry Wolbachia. It means that if we make Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have this bacteria, the mosquito-borne diseases will be less likely to spread from person to person. The World Mosquito Program has been breeding and releasing Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in 12 countries and reached about 8.6 million people.
In Yogyakarta, WMPY released Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes in Yogyakarta city, Sleman district, and Bantul district. WMPY conducted quasi-experimental research and the Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial method to determine the impact of Wolbachia technology on the dengue cases. An auspicious result showed a 77.1% reduction in dengue incidence in Wolbachia-treated communities.
Funding
Collaborators
Duration
2011 – 2022
Principal Investigator
Adi Utarini
11 Years (2011-2022)
1st phase
- Research on the Wolbachia safety aspect.
- Identified any potential area in Sleman and Bantul for research
- Built entomology and diagnosis laboratorium- Conducted an entomology research
2nd phase
- Released adult mosquitos and buckets with mosquito eggs among the communities
- Conducted a dengue active surveillance
3rd phase
- Risk assessment of Wolbachia technology
- Research on Wolbachia impacts on dengue case reduction in Yogyakarta
- Application study of Wolbachia for eliminating dengue (AWED) with Cluster Randomized Trial Control Trial (CRCT)
4th phase
- Exploration of Wolbachia intervention implementation model on the dengue control program plan
2016
knowledged by the Ministry of Research and Technology as one of the national featured research on Kebangkitan Teknologi Nasional Day.
2019
The principal investigator received a Habibie Award for her dedication to the medical sector.
2020
The principal investigator was acknowledged as one of “Nature’s 10: ten people who helped shape science in 2020.”
2021
Received a Museum Rekor Dunia Indonesia (MURI) award for “A pioneer in conducting Wolbachia related study for reducing the number of dengue cases.”
World Mosquito Program Publications
The Project Team
