At the heart of the program is an innovation from WMP, which is pioneering the use of Wolbachia, a bacterium that, when present, prevents dengue virus and other pathogens such as Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever from growing in the bodies of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that normally transmit these bacteria.
Female mosquitoes infected with the bacteria pass the bacteria on to their offspring. In addition, the bacteria shortens their lifespan, which reduces population densities in the worst-affected areas.
The technique has already proven highly effective. In recent trials in Colombia, researchers reported a 94 percent reduction in dengue infections, bringing the number of cases to a 20-year low.
Previous attempts to release Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes were conducted from the ground, releasing clouds of adult mosquitoes through tubes, often through car windows.
Dr Colin Malcolm, senior lecturer in genetics at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Life and Medical Science, said rugged terrain posed a challenge for teams on the ground.
“You're talking about areas that can be quite congested, as dengue is often associated with populated, poverty-stricken areas,” he told The Telegraph. “The complications can be poor plumbing, poor sanitation, poor roads, which means you can't get around with your vehicles.”
Another challenge was the large number of places where mosquitoes can breed.
“It could be flower vases, gutters, water storage tanks,” said Dr Oliver Brady, an associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
“This is where Wolbachia comes in as a potential solution. Because instead of killing every mosquito that is there, you are trying to replace the natural mosquito population with a population that cannot transmit dengue.”