Senior officials of the ministry and guests pose for a photo after the ceremony.’’

Second phase of project to combat mosquito-borne diseases in Laos begins

The World Mosquito Programme (WMP), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Save the Children International Laos (SCI) have started the second phase of a project for releasing Wolbachia mosquitoes – a safe, natural and effective method for preventing mosquito-borne diseases – in the country’s dengue hotspots later this year.

Dr Phonepadith Xangsayarath (front, right) shakes hands with Mr Luke Ebbs.

The agreement for this was signed in Vientiane on March 13, 2025, by the Director General of the Lao Ministry of Health’s Department of Communicable Disease Control, Dr Phonepadith Xangsayarath, and the Country Director of Save the Children International Laos, Mr Luke Ebbs. The event was attended by H.E. Aphone Visathep, Vice Minister of Health; the Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy, Mrs Benita Sommerville; and Mr. Simon Kutcher, WMP Director of Project Delivery.
The AU$ 8.2 million programme, funded by the Australian Government and Australia’s Gillespie Foundation, will help the Ministry of Health combat dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, including Zika and Chikungunya, in the Lao PDR.
Australian scientists pioneered the Wolbachia method, a ground-breaking approach that uses naturally occurring bacteria to prevent mosquitoes from transmitting dengue fever.
Dengue is a year-round threat in Laos and cases reached more than 20,000 last year, with 11 dengue-related deaths.
Many Vientiane residents have suffered from dengue in recent years and know only too well the negative impact and knock-on effects the disease can have both on health and finances.
In 2025, the project will expand to cover approximately 60 km² in all nine districts of the capital of Vientiane, and 24 km² in Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.
The new release sites will see more than 1.2 million people protected by WMP’s Wolbachia method.
This expanded programme follows the successful deployment of Wolbachia mosquitoes in Chanthabouly and Xaysettha districts of the capital, which helped protect 32 villages with a combined population of roughly 86,000 people. Releases concluded in August 2023, and public acceptance of the mosquito releases was 99 percent.
The Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy, Mrs Benita Sommerville, said: “Dengue is a growing global threat due to changes in climatic conditions and increasing urbanisation. Australian scientists at Monash University pioneered the Wolbachia method, a ground-breaking approach that uses naturally occurring bacteria to prevent mosquitos from transmitting dengue and other deadly viruses. This method has been safely and effectively deployed in 14 countries.
The Country Director of Save the Children International Laos, Mr Luke Ebbs, stated: “Dengue fever is a serious but preventable disease, and children are among the most vulnerable. Save the Children is partnering with the World Mosquito Program and the Government of Laos, with support from the Australian Government and the private sector, to expand this life-saving initiative. The climate crisis makes this work even more urgent, as rising floods and droughts create ideal conditions for mosquito-borne diseases. We are also empowering young climate champions to call on leaders for urgent action to protect children from its growing impacts”
WMP’s project manager in Laos, Breeanna McLean said: “After effectively eliminating transmission of dengue from Australia, WMP now works in 16 countries across Asia, Oceania and the Americas, protecting more than 13.3 million people with its Wolbachia method. Results from Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil and Colombia show a significant reduction in dengue incidence in areas where Wolbachia mosquitoes have been released. 
“Through our continued partnership with The Government of Laos and Save the Children, the expansion of Wolbachia within Vientiane represents a significant opportunity to reduce the burden of dengue. We are excited to be working with our partners and communities for further deployments in Laos.”

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update March 14, 2025)