East Africa launches first dedicated mosquito production and research facility in Djibouti, helping to suppress invasive mosquito species
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A new mosquito production and research facility is opening in East Africa – the first of its kind in the region – to fight against malaria. The facility will serve as the new hub for the Djibouti Friendly Mosquito Program, enabling releases of ‘Friendly’ male mosquitoes to suppress wild Anopheles stephensi populations, an invasive urban mosquito in Djibouti City and surrounding areas.
To do this, it is hoped the newly-released males – which have been genetically engineered and are non-biting – will mate with local females, allowing populations of the dangerous Anopheels stephensi mosquito to be reduced in turn. The ‘Friendly’ mosquitoes carry a gene which kills female offspring before they reach maturity. Such a gene is vital, as only female mosquitoes bite and are able to transmit malaria and other viral diseases.
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Anopheels stephensi has rapidly spread across Africa, threatening more than 100 million people in cities. Djibouti – once nearing malaria elimination entirely – has seen a resurgence in cases due to this resilient, daytime-biting mosquito.
Beyond this mission, the facility will also serve to support scientific advancement in Djibouti, hosting research, training and collaboration activities.
‘This launch marks a turning point in our national malaria strategy,’ said Djibouti’s health advisor, Col. Dr Abdoulilah A. Abdi. ‘We are proud to lead Africa in deploying targeted, sustainable solutions to protect our citizens. This new facility will help to ensure that Djibouti remains at the forefront of public health research and innovation.’
Fighting against malaria
Malaria is a significant global health challenge, particularly in Africa.
Nearly every minute, a child under five dies of malaria. Many of these deaths are preventable and treatable.
In 2022 alone, there were 249 million malaria cases globally, which lead to the deaths of 608,000 people. More than half of the deaths occurred in four countries: Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and United Republic of Tanzania. Of these deaths, 76 per cent were children under the age of five, translating to a daily toll of more than 1,000 children under five.
However, there are ways that countries around the world are fighting against the disease. Since 2000, an estimated 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million malaria deaths have been averted globally through a range of measures including chemoprevention and insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Two vaccines are also being rolled out, with a total of 17 countries introducing them by December 2024.
