The Health Ministry is looking at implementing the Wolbachia method to help combat the recent high number of dengue cases around the country.

The method reduces the ability of mosquitoes to transmit dengue on to people, without suppressing mosquito populations and potentially affecting ecosystems.

National Advisor Environmental Health, Dip Chand says they’re working closely with the Monash University in Australia on this issue.

“This Wolbachia bacteria stops the transmission of viruses like dengue in these mosquitoes so if a mosquito bites carrying a viral dengue virus then it won’t be able to transmit to the other person. We are working on it and by the end of this year we should be able to pilot this project in the Central division so as soon as we’re ready with enough then we will try and release it.”

Meanwhile, more than eight hundred confirmed dengue fever cases have been recorded by the health ministry from all divisional hospitals.

Nadi and Ba have been declared a dengue fever outbreak area.