Mosquito-based method to reduce dengue could be highly cost-effective in Singapore
New research supports release of mosquitos infected with Wolbachia
bacteria

Date:
October 13, 2021
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
New research suggests that dengue -- a viral infection spread
by mosquitos -- could be suppressed in Singapore in a highly
cost-effective manner through the release of mosquitos infected
with the bacterium Wolbachia.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
New research suggests that dengue -- a viral infection spread by
mosquitos - - could be suppressed in Singapore in a highly cost-effective manner through the release of mosquitos infected with the bacterium
Wolbachia. Stacy Soh of the National Environment Agency in Singapore
and colleagues present these findings in the new open-access journal
PLOS Global Public Health on October 13, 2021.


========================================================================== Singapore experiences periodic dengue outbreaks, including a 2020
outbreak that peaked at 1,792 weekly cases. Mosquitos infected with
the natural bacterium Wolbachia are less likely to spread dengue,
and evidence suggests that dengue can be suppressed by releasing Wolbachia-infected mosquitos into local mosquito populations. However,
the overall cost-effectiveness of this strategy had not been studied.

To evaluate the potential cost-effectiveness of Wolbachia suppression
in Singapore, Soh and colleagues first used economic and epidemiological
data to calculate the impact of dengue in the country from 2010 through
2020. They estimated that, over that 10-year period, dengue cost Singapore between $1.014 to $2.265 billion in 2010 U.S. dollars, as well as 7,645
to 21,262 disability adjusted life years (DALYs) -- total years of human
life lost to illness, disability, or death.

Next, the researchers calculated the hypothetical cost of a Wolbachia
program over the same 10-year period. They considered a strategy in which Wolbachia- infected males would have been released, as opposed to infected females, in hopes of suppressing existing mosquito populations. In this scenario, the researchers modelled a minimum of 40 percent efficacy,
in line with results from real-world studies.

The researchers calculated that, under such a program, averting a
single DALY would cost $100,907, for a total of $329.40 million saved
overall. The authors note that future work could help refine these cost estimates. For instance, future research could address how a Wolbachia suppression program might unfold in the context of distribution of
a newly developed dengue vaccine, or alongside other existing vector
control efforts, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

Regardless, the authors consider their estimates indicate that a Wolbachia program would be highly cost-effective and suggest that its rollout be prioritized in Singapore to suppress the spread of dengue.

Author Dr Lim summarizes: "The release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes
is a promising disease intervention strategy that aims to control dengue
and other arboviral infections, however, the overall cost-effectiveness
of the technology is not well studied under the suppression approach
that aims to suppress the wild-type mosquito population through the
release of Wolbachia-infected males.

Using Singapore as the primary case example, this
study found that the Wolbachia releases in Singapore
are expected to be highly cost-effective and its rollout
must be prioritised to reduce the onward spread of dengue." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Stacy Soh, Soon Hoe Ho, Annabel Seah, Janet Ong, Borame Sue
Dickens, Ken
Wei Tan, Joel Ruihan Koo, Alex R. Cook, Kelvin Bryan Tan, Shuzhen
Sim, Lee Ching Ng, Jue Tao Lim. Economic impact of dengue in
Singapore from 2010 to 2020 and the cost-effectiveness of Wolbachia
interventions. PLOS Global Public Health, 2021; 1 (10): e0000024
DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pgph.0000024 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211013152142.htm

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