The fight against dengue in Paraguay may take an important step toward more sustainable and evidence-based methods. The Ministry of Public Health, together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is promoting a study that will analyze the performance of an ecological bio-larvicide aimed at reducing the reproduction of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito responsible for transmitting diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.
Unlike traditional methods, which rely heavily on chemical insecticides and the elimination of breeding sites, biological control seeks to act on the larval stage of the mosquito through natural or low-environmental-impact agents. This approach aims to reduce the vector population without significantly affecting other organisms or favoring the emergence of resistance to chemical products, a growing challenge in several countries.
The research will determine whether this technology maintains its effectiveness under Paraguay's climatic and environmental conditions. The results will serve to strengthen national vector surveillance and control strategies, providing scientific information that could support the incorporation of new tools to prevent epidemics of mosquito-borne diseases.
The initiative will be executed in coordination with the National Service for Malaria Eradication (Senepa), the body responsible for mosquito surveillance and control actions in the country. During a meeting, the Vice Minister of Health Governance and Surveillance, José Ortellado, and the resident representative of JICA, Chika Takahatake, reviewed the technical aspects of the project and the scope of the cooperation agreement that will enable the research to be developed within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).