Panama
Aedes aegypti in Panama
Aedes aegypti is a non-native species in Panama. These mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance as they can spread serious diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika and Chikungunya. Aedes aegypti is particularly difficult to control as it lives around humans, and the Panamanian government is looking for new technologies to suppress the population of these disease carriers.
Read more about how our solution works here.
Nuevo Chorrillo
From April to October 2014, Oxitec worked with the Gorgas Institute to carry out a project to suppress local Aedes aegypti using our 1st Generation Friendly™ Aedes aegypti. The project took place in Nuevo Chorrillo, a residential suburb of the Arraiján District, west of Panama City. This 10-hectare urban area is home to approximately 900 residents.
Within 6 months, the population of wild Aedes aegypti was suppressed by a maximum of 93% relative to an untreated area. Suppression in the treatment area was maintained as the wet season progressed – the time of year in which mosquito numbers typically rise significantly.
Prior to the study, approval was obtained from Panama’s National Biosafety Committee, and from the Ministries of Agricultural Development and Commerce and Industry. In addition, extensive community engagement was carried out locally.
For further information, please see our published results from the project:
