Wolbachia is a naturally occurring bacterium found in more than 60 per cent of insect species around us, including butterflies, dragonflies, fruit flies, and various mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has conducted a comprehensive risk assessment of Wolbachia technology, and has determined it to be safe with no risk to human health and insignificant risk to ecology.

The conclusion is consistent with other international findings and the findings of an independent review commissioned by NEA. NEA’s evaluation process involved critical reviews of existing knowledge and research, and consultations with various stakeholders, such as academic experts, medical and healthcare professionals, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito is also not considered a genetically modified organism, as confirmed by the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) in Singapore. This is because there is no tampering or modification of the genes of the mosquito. 

More information on Wolbachia technology can be found here.