In response to an early and severe West Nile virus season, Washington DC is releasing hundreds of thousands of mosquitos carrying a sterilizing gut bacteria called Wolbachia. These male mosquitos, totaling 600,000, are intended to reduce the virus spread by rendering female mosquitos infertile. Health officials are urging the public to use bug spray and mosquito-control measures due to the heightened risk of West Nile virus infections this year.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 48 confirmed cases of West Nile virus, with 38 classified as severe as of June 30. This number is significantly higher than the average cases reported by the end of June in previous years. The virus has been discovered in 23 states, the most widespread outbreak in a decade.
West Nile virus can result in mild symptoms like headaches, body aches, and rashes, but in severe cases, it can lead to life-threatening inflammation of the central nervous system. Individuals over 60 and those with underlying medical conditions are at the highest risk of severe complications.
Bee Safe Mosquito Control, a Maryland-based company, is releasing male mosquitos in Washington to combat the spread of the virus. These mosquitos, known as “ZAP males,” target the Asian Tiger mosquito, a carrier of various diseases. This method has been successful in other countries and poses no harm to the ecosystem as the targeted mosquito species is non-native.
Since its first appearance in the US in 1999, West Nile virus has progressively spread across the country, reaching its peak in 2003 with nearly 10,000 reported cases. The release of infected mosquitos aims to control the mosquito population and reduce the risk of virus transmission.
