Putrajaya sees 36.2% drop in dengue cases

Putrajaya sees 36.2% drop in dengue cases

Putrajaya Corporation president Sakeri Abdul Kadir points to the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes as a key factor.

aedes
The Wolbachia bacterium inhibits the self-replication of the dengue virus within its carrier, typically the Aedes aegypti mosquito. (Pixabay pic)
PETALING JAYA:
Dengue cases in Putrajaya fell by 36.2% from January to April 2026 compared with the same period last year, says Putrajaya Corporation president Sakeri Abdul Kadir, who points to the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitos as a key factor.

Sakeri said as of April, 588,800 such mosquitoes have been released in several phases since 2020 in Precinct 14, Putrajaya.

“In Precinct 18, a total of 554,400 adult mosquitoes have been released since October 2025. The Wolbachia mosquito population in the area is stabilising,” Bernama reported him as saying today.

The Wolbachia bacterium, which lives naturally in the reproductive organs of insects, inhibits the self-replication of the dengue virus within its carrier, typically the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Its use in curbing dengue outbreaks involves injecting the bacteria into Aedes aegypti mosquito eggs and releasing the mosquitoes.

Sakeri said the federal territories department is considering expanding the Wolbachia method to People’s Housing Projects and public housing areas with high dengue case rates.

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