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Working to remove mosquitoes that can spread dengue and Zika

Our research in Innisfail and the Cassowary Coast, Far North Queensland.

Contact us with your questions.

CSIRO is excited to be working with Verily and James Cook University to expand studies in Innisfail to test if new technologies will reduce the population of an invasive species of mosquito.

We encourage all Innisfail residents to follow the progress of our research here and call 1800 4030 83 with any questions.

Welcome

Debug Innisfail

Studying new technologies to reduce the population of an invasive mosquito species that can spread dengue and Zika.

About

Our research efforts are focused on showing whether it is possible to significantly reduce populations of the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, if not remove it, using the Sterile Insect Technique. If applied as part of a large-scale program, we hope this would reduce the threat from dengue and Zika.

FAQs

Our scientists love to talk about their research. If you can’t find the answer to your question amongst our selection here contact us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with an answer.

Contact

We don’t bite – and we talk your language. We have a dedicated Community Engagement team that is making every effort to ensure residents and business owners in communities selected for studies understand the mosquito reduction method and research goals.

Recent News

Our community volunteer, John

John Harrison is a Wangan resident who doesn’t like dengue, and Debug Innisfail is lucky to have him involved on the community Project Advisory Group (PAG). His past experience of contracting a mosquito-borne disease, along with his determination to protect his grandchildren from such a debilitating condition, has driven him to be involved with the […]

The big wet

Innisfail and its surrounding areas have copped a deluge in recent weeks where some suburbs were flooded and people suffered quite a disturbance to their homes and businesses, whilst others were lucky enough to remain high and dry. Time will tell exactly how the wet has affected our study, but already we are seeing some […]

Local ‘Mozzie Meets’ on 21st March, 2018

The community of the Northern Cassowary Coast, particularly those living and working in the mosquito release sites, Mourilyan, South Johnstone and Goondi Bend, are invited to come along and talk ‘mozzies’ with some of our science leaders.

A mighty million!

We recently reached a milestone of one million sterile non-biting male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes released in Mourilyan, South Johnstone and Goondi Bend since November last year! Product Manager Dr Nigel Snoad, Lead Scientist Dr Brad White, and Director of Automation Pete Mossaro, all from project partner Verily, recently flew over from their facility in California […]

Feedback and WIN!

People living, working and recreating in and around the communities in which we have been studying are invited to give us feedback and go in the draw to WIN one of five fantastic local prizes! Debug Innisfail started releasing male non-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes back in November last year in Mourilyan, and then South Johnstone […]

Our mozzies make mates in Mourilyan

30 November 2017: Releases of sterile, non-biting males are underway in Mourilyan with South Johnstone and Goondi Bend to begin next week.

Innisfail Mozzie Project facebook

Innisfail Mozzie Project facebook