Record Dengue Cases Prompt Partnership
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — In response to an alarming surge in dengue cases, two private companies have announced a groundbreaking partnership aimed at releasing mosquitoes bred with a bacterium that blocks the dengue virus. The Caribbean, along with the Americas, has reported over 4 million cases of dengue this year, marking the highest number since record-keeping began in 1980.
Orbit Services Partners Inc. and Verily Join Forces
Orbit Services Partners Inc., a registered company in Barbados, has teamed up with Verily, a San Francisco-based health technology company, for this innovative project. Anthony Da Silva, the chairman of Orbit, revealed that the companies have been engaging with government officials in the Caribbean region in hopes of launching the project early next year. The target nations for this initiative include Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Suriname, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
Wolbachia Bacterium as a Solution
The approach proposed by Orbit and Verily builds upon successful projects that have utilized the Wolbachia bacterium in other parts of the world. In laboratories, mosquitoes are infected with Wolbachia and then released into the wild, passing it on to their offspring. This bacterium effectively prevents the replication of the dengue virus inside a mosquito’s gut.
Years in the Making
Anthony Da Silva highlighted that the partnership has been in the works for three years, with the pandemic causing some delays. Currently, the proposal awaits approval in individual Caribbean nations before implementation can begin.
The joint effort by private companies to combat dengue in the Caribbean offers hope for a region grappling with an unprecedented number of cases. If successful, this initiative could significantly reduce the prevalence of dengue and protect the health of millions of people in the Caribbean.
