Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The world's largest factory that produces mosquitoes that can prevent dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses from reproducing has opened in Curitiba, Brazil, aiming to boost protection in 40 municipalities with high infection rates.
The mosquitos, which are infused with the Wolbachia bacterium, prevents viruses carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito from reproducing, sharply reducing the insect's ability to transmit diseases.
The factory, built by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in partnership with the World Mosquito Program and supported by Brazil's Health Ministry, can produce 100 million eggs per week.
The new complex, covering 37,674 square feet, represents an investment of more than $15 million and is expected to benefit about 140 million people.
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