Mauritius Deploys Sterile Mosquitoes to Combat Chikungunya Outbreak

The Republic of Mauritius today announced its adoption of an innovative strategy to combat mosquito-borne diseases through the implementation of the Sterile Insect Technique.

This method involves releasing sterilised male mosquitoes into the wild to mate with females, thereby reducing the mosquito population and containing the spread of diseases such as Chikungunya and Dengue.

This program is essential as the island of Mauritius has already reported over 1,500 Chikungunya cases in 2025.

Furthermore, France's neighboring departments reported a surge in Chikungunya cases in the Indian Ocean, east of Africa.

In a statement published on July 18, 2025, the Minister highlighted that the Sterile Insect Technique has proven effective during a pilot phase and is safer than traditional methods such as larviciding and fogging, which rely on chemical insecticides.

He noted that while current cases of mosquito-borne diseases remain low—around 40 cases of Chikungunya and none of Dengue—now is the time to prepare for the high-risk summer season.

The Sterile Insect Technique has been implemented over the past two to three years and has resulted in a 70% reduction in the mosquito population across a 20-hectare area in Port Louis.

While there is no specific treatment for Chikungunya infections, two vaccines are currently available in various countries, including the United States.