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What is the reason behind Singapore releasing 5 million mosquitoes into nature every week?

Singapore has attracted the attention of the whole world by producing and releasing approximately 5 million mosquitoes a week into nature. While efforts are normally made to reduce the fly population in many countries, this is the opposite in Singapore. So, is Singapore trying to create trouble for itself for no reason, or does it actually have good reasons?
 What is the reason behind Singapore releasing 5 million mosquitoes into nature every week?
READING NOW What is the reason behind Singapore releasing 5 million mosquitoes into nature every week?

Many people may naturally think that this deliberate action could have very bad consequences for the world. After all, we can say that mosquitoes are wherever there is filth and dirt. Especially in the summer months, when they haunt us, they can drive people crazy, even if only for a short time.

Mosquitoes, which can carry almost all kinds of bacteria, can cause many diseases. Don’t worry, Singapore has no sinister plans for the world; You may even say “I wish we could do this too” after reading it!

We said that these mosquitoes are produced on purpose, and they even have special rooms for themselves. Mosquitoes produced in fermented sugar chambers produce approximately 24 million eggs per week.

A place where mosquito eggs are kept.

As we mentioned before, mosquitoes have the risk of transmitting many diseases to humans. In order to prevent this problem, Singapore’s National Environment Agency knowingly releases disease-free mosquitoes that they produce into nature. However, we hear you say that the disease can still be transmitted.

These mosquitoes are infected with bacteria called Wolbachia in the laboratory where they are produced and released into nature. Do not think that bacteria are harmful because they are actually found almost everywhere in nature. For example; It is also found in butterflies, wasps and dragonflies.

So what is this Wolbachia bacterium and what does it protect us from? In fact, this bacterium has been used around the world to prevent insect populations for many years.

Singapore ICA laboratory where mosquitoes are kept separately as male and female.

Wolbachia is used to prevent malaria and dengue fever from being a threat to humans anymore if transmitted to the mosquito. Mosquitoes, which are especially common in tropical countries, naturally carry the risk of the disease that can be transmitted all over the world.

We are all more or less familiar with malaria, but we are sure that many of us do not know about dengue fever, so let’s explain it briefly. Dengue fever is a very dangerous disease, although it causes pain as if your bones would break if it infects a person.

Mosquito tubes waiting to be released.

Even though the encounter rate in the world is quite low, scientists are still carrying out this study to ensure that mosquitoes do not pose a threat. In addition, this bacterium is also used to prevent the mosquito population because Wolbachia bacterium has the ability to inhibit the ability to reproduce.

Another aim of this study is to evolve mosquitoes so that they no longer carry such diseases and their populations can be prevented.

Although it is not covered much in the media, our readers who visit Singapore may know that Singapore has been struggling with the mosquito problem for many years. Mosquitoes, which prefer urban, hot and densely populated areas to breed, have become a scourge in Singapore.

Mosquito pesticides are sprayed everywhere, people are advised to avoid being bitten, and instructions are even given not to breed at home. In fact, in Singapore there is even a penalty if you do not follow these instructions! Isn’t it strange?

However, no matter what the government does, unfortunately, it has not been able to prevent it for years, and now it plans to prevent it by evolving mosquitoes as the only solution. Thus, the newborn mosquito population will no longer be able to reproduce as much as before and will not be able to infect humans with the diseases they have been suffering from for years.

Bill Gates also funded a similar project in 2004.

Although many people once declared Bill Gates, who put a photo of a mosquito on his X cover photo, as the devil, the truth of the matter was not quite like that. The World Mosquito Program, which carries out almost the same project as Singapore’s, was actually carrying out this project to prevent diseases and control the mosquito population, just like this project.

We have shared content with detailed information on this subject, you can find it below:

Frankly, we were very jealous of this work and thought how nice it would be if it was implemented in our country. We hope that similar studies will be carried out in our country to combat the mosquitoes that plague us in the summer months! So how did you find this study? Do you think it makes sense? Don’t forget to mention it in the comments.

Sources: UNDARK, Today Online, The Straits Times, CNA

Our other content about mosquitoes:

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