Drones are now being used to release Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia bacteria.

The World Mosquito Program in Fiji says the initiative is currently carrying out the project in the Western division.

These mosquitoes will help reduce the transmission of diseases like Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika.

Project Coordinator, Aminiasi Tavui says last year, they successfully released these mosquitoes in the Central Division and are pleased with the result.

“We are using the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle release, also known as drones, to release Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes. So as we speak they are currently using this to release Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes and we are releasing it from above with the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji.”

WMP is monitoring the progress of the project by collecting samples of mosquitoes from last year’s release sites and sending them to Monash University in Melbourne for screening.