'Bug' could combat dengue fever

by Amitjha | January 2, 2009 at 04:34 am

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This research if proven right can save the million lives every year.These parasite kills millions of people across the world.The introduction of bacteria that reduces the life span of parasite can eliminate the dangerous ones without hurting the balance.

Humans could be protected from dengue fever by infecting the mosquitoes carrying it with a parasite which halves their lifespan, say researchers.

Australian scientists, writing in the journal Science, found that Wolbachia bacteria spread well through laboratory-bred mosquitoes.

Only older mosquitoes pass on dengue - so killing them could cut disease.

Experts said it remained to be seen how well the bacteria would spread outside the laboratory.

The virus might also adapt to survive, they added.

Many thousands of cases of dengue fever occur worldwide each year, mainly in warmer tropical countries