Project Wolbachia Reaches Half Of Singapore Households With Expansion To Five New Areas

Source: Government of Singapore

Expansion to Bukit Panjang, Little India, Pioneer, Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio will raise coverage by about 100,000 households to over 800,000 households by end-2026.

13 March 2026 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) will expand Project Wolbachia – Singapore to five additional areas by the end of this year, achieving the target of covering 50 per cent of all households in Singapore. From April to October 2026, the programme will be progressively rolled out to Bukit Panjang, Little India, Pioneer, Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio, bringing total household coverage to more than 800,000 households [1]. More information on the releases can be found on NEA website and the myENV mobile application.

Milestone in Dengue Control

2             Reaching 50 per cent household coverage, including most areas at risk of large dengue outbreaks, will mark an important milestone for Singapore’s dengue control efforts. While residents will see a temporary increase in mosquitoes with the release of the male non-biting Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti (Wolbachia-Aedes) mosquitoes, studies have shown significant benefits in release areas. Aedes aegypti mosquito populations reduced by 80 to 90 per cent, while residents experienced over 70 per cent lower dengue risk [2]. Residents living adjacent to the release areas were 45 per cent less likely to contract dengue compared to those with no releases.

3              These results highlight the effectiveness of Project Wolbachia as a complementary tool in Singapore’s comprehensive dengue control strategy. Project Wolbachia works alongside key prevention methods, including the removal of stagnant water sources and community education initiatives, to provide a multi-layered defence against dengue transmission. Source reduction to prevent mosquito breeding remains the cornerstone of effective dengue control.

A Decade of Innovation and Partnership

4            Project Wolbachia marks its 10th anniversary this October, reflecting a decade of innovative research with strong support from partners, stakeholders, and the community. The milestone underscores Singapore’s commitment to develop cutting-edge and effective approaches to combat dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. The programme’s success would not have been possible without active community partnership.

Targeting the Primary Dengue Vector

5            Project Wolbachia specifically targets Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector for dengue and Zika in Singapore. Residents may still encounter other biting mosquitoes in their homes and communities [3]. Like Aedes aegypti, these mosquitos may breed in stagnant water, making continued source reduction efforts crucial for overall mosquito control.

Community vigilance remains essential

6           Wolbachia-Aedes suppression technology is a powerful tool in our fight against dengue. However, it is designed to complement – not replace – proven source reduction efforts. Reduced community vigilance which leads to more mosquito breeding will negate the positive impact of Project Wolbachia, and can lead to an increase in dengue cases.  Sustained community efforts therefore remain critical for keeping dengue risks low. The B-L-O-C-K steps also remove breeding habitats for other biting mosquito species not targeted by Project Wolbachia.

7          Residents are reminded to practise the ‘B-L-O-C-K’ steps regularly:

• Break up hardened soil
• Lift and empty flowerpot plates
• Overturn pails and wipe their rims
• Change water in vases
• Keep roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide inside

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