Bacteria could limit dengue spread

An Australian study suggests bacteria could successfully be used to help fight the spread of dengue fever, researchers said.

Laboratory-bred mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria lived half as long as other mosquitoes, the BBC reported. Because only older mosquitoes are able to spread dengue, the bacteria could halt the disease, scientists at the University of Queensland in Brisbane said.
The findings are published in the journal Science.

Infectious disease experts say it is unclear whether the infected mosquitoes can spread far enough and fast enough to make a difference. Also, it is possible the mosquitoes could adapt to the bacteria, the report said.