A pioneering facility in Larnaca will breed sterile mosquitoes to help eliminate one of the world’s most dangerous disease-carrying species.
Cyprus is preparing to build Europe’s first laboratory dedicated to breeding sterile mosquitoes after a successful pilot programme in Larnaca demonstrated the effectiveness of an innovative method to combat the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The species is responsible for transmitting Zika virus, dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever. Officials say Cyprus and the Portuguese island of Madeira are currently the only places in Europe where Aedes aegypti has become established, with international travel and shipping believed to be key factors behind its spread.
The project places Cyprus at the forefront of Europe’s efforts to control mosquito-borne diseases, as health authorities across the continent warn of increasing risks linked to climate change and the expansion of invasive mosquito species.
How the sterile mosquito technique works
The laboratory will use the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), a method that has been successfully applied against agricultural pests in several countries and is now being adapted to tackle disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Scientists breed millions of male mosquitoes before sterilising them using carefully controlled radiation. Once released into the environment, the sterile males mate with wild females, but the eggs produced do not hatch. As the process is repeated, mosquito populations decline naturally without the widespread use of insecticides.
According to Olivier Briet, a medical entomology expert at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Cyprus is leading Europe in applying this technology to eradicate Aedes aegypti.
Briet told Euractiv that Europe must move beyond traditional mosquito control methods and described the Cypriot project as an important step towards modern, environmentally sustainable disease prevention.
Pilot programme delivered promising results
The Health Ministry’s Public Health Services Department said the decision to proceed with a permanent laboratory follows encouraging results from a pilot programme carried out in Larnaca.
Researchers released sterile male mosquitoes in one area where Aedes aegypti is established while fertile males were released in another, allowing scientists to compare the two populations directly.
Following the success of the trial, authorities selected a site in Larnaca for the new breeding facility.
Herodotos Herodotou, head of the Public Health Services Department, said preparations are already under way, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) funding the project and supplying specialised prefabricated laboratory units. The European Commission’s health department is also supporting the initiative.
Infrastructure planning is now progressing in cooperation with the Public Works Department, while authorities are seeking to classify the laboratory as a government priority project to avoid delays.
Most of the construction is expected to be completed during 2027.
A long-term goal of eradication
Officials hope the laboratory will eventually allow Cyprus to completely eliminate Aedes aegypti from the island.
If successful, the expertise developed in Cyprus could later be used by other countries facing similar mosquito threats.
The laboratory could also expand its work to target Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the tiger mosquito, another invasive species capable of transmitting Zika, dengue fever and chikungunya that has spread widely across Europe.
Resistance to insecticides raises concern
Health officials say the sterile mosquito programme has become even more important because researchers have detected signs that Aedes aegypti is developing resistance to pyrethroid insecticides.
As chemical treatments become less effective, alternative control methods are becoming increasingly important.
Unlike conventional spraying, the Sterile Insect Technique is environmentally friendly and can be used in protected Natura 2000 areas without harming surrounding ecosystems or other wildlife.
Island-wide monitoring continues
The sterile mosquito programme forms part of a broader national surveillance strategy.
Cyprus operates an island-wide entomological monitoring network using egg traps and adult mosquito traps across government-controlled areas. Scientists regularly inspect and replace the traps while recording mosquito activity through a digital mapping system that allows authorities to identify hotspots and respond quickly when populations increase.
Diseases spread by Aedes aegypti
The mosquito is considered one of the world’s most dangerous disease vectors because it can transmit several serious viral infections.
Zika virus usually causes mild symptoms, but infection during pregnancy can result in severe birth defects, including microcephaly, and has also been linked to neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Chikungunya typically causes sudden fever, severe joint pain, muscle aches and fatigue. Although deaths are rare, joint pain can persist for months or even years.
Dengue fever is the fastest-growing mosquito-borne disease worldwide. While most infections cause high fever, headaches and severe muscle pain, repeat infections can develop into life-threatening haemorrhagic dengue.
Yellow fever initially causes fever, chills and muscle pain, but severe cases can progress to liver failure, internal bleeding and multiple organ failure. An effective vaccine is available and remains the primary means of prevention in affected regions.
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