Do wolbachia mosquitoes bite humans? Separating facts from myths

Key points

• As dengue cases continue to be a major public health challenge in many tropical and subtropical countries, scientists are turning to innovative methods to control the disease.
• One strategy that has gained attention in recent years involves the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes into the environment.
• The idea may sound unusual at first.
• After all, mosquitoes are known for spreading diseases, so why would scientists deliberately release more of them?
• This question has sparked curiosity as well as concern among communities where Wolbachia mosquito programmes are being introduced.