The epidemiological situation in China is becoming increasingly complicated. In Guangdong province, a dangerous virus called chikungunya is spreading widely. In an absolutely unconventional move, the authorities decided to combat the tiny mosquitoes that spread the virus by releasing their “cannibal” relatives – giant mosquitoes of the Toxorhynchites splendens species – into the wild.
These mosquitoes do not bite humans but feed on smaller, infectious Aedes mosquitoes. The biological defense program is being led by researchers from the Zhongshan School of Medicine at Sun Yat-sen University.
The point is that in the city of Foshan, more than 6,000 people have been infected with chikungunya in just three weeks. The country is reinstating traditional measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic – mass PCR testing, isolation zones, and full disinfection of entire neighborhoods. This time, a new element has also been introduced: more than 5,000 fish that feed on mosquito eggs and larvae have been released into the city’s ponds and rivers.
In neighboring Guangzhou, to ensure public safety, the authorities have released a “risk map” for all 120 districts. Based on this map, insecticides are sprayed twice daily. A week-long continuous disinfection campaign has been launched.
The chikungunya virus is transmitted only through the bite of an infected mosquito. It was first identified in 1952 in Tanzania. The name comes from the Kimakonde language, meaning “to become contorted” – referring to the bent posture of sufferers due to intense joint pain.
Unfortunately, there is still no specific and effective vaccine against this virus. The incubation period usually ranges from 2 to 7 days. The illness begins suddenly with a high fever and severe joint pain, which can be so intense that movement becomes difficult. Muscle aches, headaches, rashes, nausea, and vomiting are also common.
Although deaths are rare, the severe aftereffects can significantly reduce a person’s quality of life. At such times, the use of nature’s own mechanisms for protection stands out as a surprising and exemplary solution.
Fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes – this is no longer science fiction but reality.
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