5只绝育雄蚊对付1只野生雌蚊！但“以蚊治蚊”安全性同样引发关注

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the innovative biological control method of using sterilized male mosquitoes to combat mosquito-borne diseases, particularly focusing on the efforts in Guangdong, China, to address the spread of the Chikungunya virus through the establishment of a "mosquito factory" that breeds millions of sterilized male mosquitoes weekly [1][4][11]. Group 1: Biological Control Methods - The Guangdong region is implementing biological control methods, including the "mosquito control by mosquitoes" strategy, to combat the Chikungunya virus, which has seen an increase in cases since July [2][4]. - The "mosquito factory" in Guangzhou, operated by Guangzhou Weibai Kun Biotechnology Co., breeds 5 million sterilized male mosquitoes weekly, which are released to mate with wild female mosquitoes, resulting in non-viable eggs [5][7]. Group 2: Production and Release Strategy - The mosquito factory employs advanced technology, including automated sorting and separation of mosquito larvae, achieving a male mosquito production accuracy of less than 0.3% [5][7]. - The release strategy involves a ratio of more than 5:1, meaning for every wild female mosquito found, over five sterilized males are released to ensure effective mating [7]. Group 3: Efficacy and Results - Monitoring data indicates that the introduction of sterilized male mosquitoes leads to a rapid stabilization of mosquito populations within 5 to 10 minutes, with a potential reduction of mosquito numbers by 50% within three weeks and over 80% within six to eight weeks [7][9]. - The use of Wolbachia bacteria in mosquitoes has shown promise in reducing the transmission of diseases like dengue and Zika, with successful trials reported in Brazil leading to significant decreases in disease cases [9][10]. Group 4: Global Collaboration and Expansion - The company is collaborating with Mexico to establish a similar mosquito factory model aimed at controlling dengue fever, and Singapore has also adopted this technology with reported effectiveness in reducing dengue cases by over 70% [10]. - The World Health Organization has raised alarms about the global spread of the Chikungunya virus, highlighting the urgency of such biological control measures as 119 countries have reported cases, affecting approximately 5.5 million people [11].