The government of Ecuador has launched a new facility dedicated to the mass production of sterile Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, as part of its efforts to combat dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. The initiative was formally opened on Tuesday with the participation of Vice President María José Pinto.
The project is led by the National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), and forms part of the country’s National Plan against Dengue. The primary goal is to strengthen vector control measures for disease prevention.
“The inauguration of this biofactory is a clear sign of where we want to go as a country: an Ecuador that invests in science, believes in innovation, and puts people at the center of public decisions,” said Vice President Pinto during the event.
The facility covers approximately 200 square meters and adheres to international standards for biosafety and operational efficiency. It features controlled access, changing rooms, separate areas for larval and adult mosquito rearing, sex separation zones, a bioassay laboratory, quality control room, cold storage, and material cleaning and disinfection areas. “We are not just talking about infrastructure; we are talking about a new way to prevent, anticipate, and protect life with modern, safe, and responsible solutions,” stated the top health authority.
This effort is part of the proposal titled “Strengthening infrastructure for suppression of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes through Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in Ecuador.” The project receives funding from the national government via SENESCYT and IDEARIUM’s 2024 YuyaIPI edition call for strengthening public research institutes. INSPI executes the program with support and co-financing from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The facility aims to produce up to one million sterile male mosquitoes per week. Releasing these insects into the environment will help reduce offspring production and contribute to vector control in Ecuador. This method offers a sustainable alternative to intensive insecticide use by lowering chemical resistance risks and supporting ecosystem protection.
Previously, around 2.7 million sterile male mosquitoes were released in Bellavista on Santa Cruz Island in Galápagos, resulting in an almost complete reduction of Aedes aegypti vectors there. On mainland Ecuador, intervention is planned this year in Pacto within Chocó Andino—a region noted for ecological sensitivity—where this technology will enhance dengue control while supporting environmental conservation.
Leandro Patiño, Executive Director of INSPI, emphasized professional contributions: “This will contribute to vector control strategies and prevention… We are a pioneering institution in both our country and region regarding sterile mosquito production technology. It is cutting-edge technology appropriate for a national reference laboratory.”
With this new biofactory, INSPI and MSP reaffirm their commitment to technological innovation and public health by deploying advanced tools against current and future challenges posed by vector-borne diseases.
