Eliminate Dengue Project (EDP) Yogya team will extend the coverage of release of Aedes aegypti mosquito carrying Wolbachia bacteria into 12 districts in Yogyakarta municipality after the first 7 districts in the attempt to minimise dengue fever case.
Main researcher of EDP Yogya, Prof. Adi Untarini, said since August 2016 they had released mosquito having wolbachia bacteria in seven districts of Yogyakarta, i.e. Karangwaru, Wirobrajan, Pakuncen, Patangpuluhan, Kricak, Tegalrejo, and Bener. The project resulted well.
“Currently, the presentation of mosquito with Wolbachia mosquito is high. We have stopped the project in four districts because the presentation has reached 60 percent there,”she said on Monday (20/3) at a press conference in Fortakgama room at UGM.
Adi said the release of mosquito with Wolbachia would be stopped if the percentage has reached 60 percent, showing that the mosquito has endured well and can breed naturally.
“We will release the mosquito into more areas to prove the effectiveness of this method,” she said.
The mosquito will be released into 12 districts: Cokrodiningratan, Terban, Pringgokusuman, Sosromenduran, Baciro, Suryatmajan, Tegal Panggung, Ngupasan, Muja Muju, Kadipaten, Patehan, Wirogunan, Warungboto, Mantrijeron, Bangunharjo, and Sorosutan. It will start in March, lasting to November 2017.
“The city of Yogyakarta has been selected for the project because this area has a high prevalence of dengue fever. Hopefully, the release of the Wolbachia mosquito will minimise the dengue fever case,” she expected.
In 2014 EDP released mosquito with Wolbachia in Sleman and Bantul regencies. The percentage of the mosquito there has reached 80-100 percent and no case of dengue fever has been contracted.
Meanwhile, Head of Prevention and Mitigation of Health Problems in the Yogyakarta Health Agency, Drs. Elvi Effendy, Apt., M.Kes., said the dengue fever case in Yogyakarta was fluctuative. But in 2016 the prevalence soared to 6 thousands compared to previous year at 4 thousands.
“In 2016 the figure was fantastic, the case soared to 6 thousands, but fatalities reduced. This was due to the increased understanding of people and awareness of medics in handling the matter,” he said.
Elvi said dengue fever prevention was not the sole responsibility of the health agency, but also everyone. He expected all stakeholders to play their role in preventive efforts.
“We continue to support the programme to release mosquito with Wolbachia bacteria. Since the start in 2011 until today, the progress has been rapid and hopefully can help reduce the threat of dengue fever in Yogyakarta,” he said.