prevention

Gorgas study explores mosquito control

LA PRENSA

biting back: Epidemiologists from seven nations will take part in research targeting disease-transmitting mosquitoes.1077201

Panamanian epidemiologists are joining health representatives from six other countries in the pursuit of innovative techniques aimed at exterminating the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a common carrier of dengue fever.

Medical epidemiologist Vicente Bayard said the idea is to come up with a battle plan similar to that used on the screw-worm fly, the bane of livestock farmers worldwide. Efforts to control the insect’s destructive larvae involve releasing sterile female flies, preventing reproduction, a strategy that has succeeded in reducing their numbers.

But whereas radioactivity is used to sterilize the flies, genetic engineering will likely be the method employed on the carrier mosquitoes.

Veteran epidemiologists from the Imperial College of London, England, are guiding the research work, which is being hosted by the Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas in Calidonia. Scientists from India, Mexico, Brazil, Kenya and Thailand were also invited to participate in the study.

Bayard explained that developing the plan could take up to two years to complete, as health standards require that the scientists follow a series of clinical investigations. After that, any idea would have to be reviewed by the government and environmental groups before implementing it.

In Panama’s case, however, the procedure may be expedited owing to funding through the Programa de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, financed by the World Health Organization.

In addition to mosquito control, the epidemiologist said that the Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Senacyt) is funding a study of the effectiveness of current malaria treatments, an issue that has caused concern in the medical community after some mosquitoes showed resistance to traditional medications. That research is expected to cost around $40,000.

Bayard discussed the two projects during a training program for inspectors with the Departamento de Control de Vectores del Ministerio de Salud in Santiago de Veraguas.

The vector control entity was also commemorating its 52-year anniversary with presentations addressing issues related to the insect and animal vectors that transmit hanta virus, leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease.