Environmental Health Institute

  1. The National Environment Agency
  2. Corporate Functions
  3. Resources
  4. Research
  5. Environmental Health Institute
  6. Wolbachia-Aedes Mosquito Suppression Strategy

Wolbachia-Aedes Mosquito Suppression Strategy

Project Wolbachia Update

Oct 2026:

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will expand Project Wolbachia – Singapore to five additional areas by the end of this year, achieving the target of covering 50% of all households in Singapore. From April to October 2026, the programme will be progressively rolled out to Bukit Panjang, Little India, Pioneer, Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio, bringing total household coverage to more than 800,000 households.

Click here for more information on all release sites and schedule.

We are also pleased to share that the Project Wolbachia multi-site field study (2022–2024) has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This milestone represents a decade of rigorous research in dengue control, demonstrating the power of science, policy, and community collaboration in advancing public health. The study showed a significant drop in Singapore's primary dengue vector population - the Aedes aegypti, and more than 70% reduction in dengue risk among residents.

Project Wolbachia Singapore_logo

Using male Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti (Wolbachia-Aedes) mosquitoes to reduce the dengue mosquito population

NEA’s Environmental Health Institute has studied various novel mosquito control methods, and has found that the Wolbachia-Aedes suppression technology is most suitable for Singapore’s context. NEA’s Dengue Expert Advisory Panel (DEAP), comprising experts from Singapore, Australia, the UK, and the US, has also recommended that Singapore explore the use of the Wolbachia-Aedes suppression technology to further reduce the risk of dengue.

Results

The heatmaps below show the “eraser effect” where previously dark red areas (indicating high Aedes aegypti mosquito population) gradually faded to low mosquito population after releases. Scientific studies will continue to evaluate the impact of the project and improve the cost effectiveness and deployment strategies for Project Wolbachia.

Heat map Oct 2024


NEA’s phased approach

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Vector Control Advisory Group recommends that Wolbachia suppression technology be carefully piloted under operational conditions. These pilots should involve rigorous, independent monitoring and evaluation.

In line with these recommendations, NEA has been testing and implementing Wolbachia-Aedes suppression via a phased approach. Our trials start small and, if successful, progress in size and complexity. This allows us to troubleshoot any issues that may arise, and to design the next phase based on solid evidence. Such a phased approach is now recommended by the WHO and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Click on the phase you are interested in to find out more:

Project Wolbachia Timeline

Click on the phase you are interested in to find out more: