🦟 China Unleashes Giant Cannibal Mosquitoes to Fight Chikungunya Outbreak

In a bold and unconventional move, Chinese scientists are deploying giant “elephant mosquitoes” to combat a rapidly growing chikungunya outbreak in the southern province of Guangdong. These oversized insects—measuring nearly 2 centimeters—don’t bite humans. Instead, their larvae feast on the disease-spreading Aedes mosquitoes, which are responsible for transmitting chikungunya, dengue, Zika, and yellow fever.

🚨 A Public Health Emergency

Foshan, a major city in Guangdong, has reported over 6,000 infections in just three weeks, prompting authorities to revive pandemic-era tactics like mass PCR testing, isolation protocols, and widespread disinfection campaigns. But it’s the deployment of cannibal mosquitoes that’s turning heads.

🧬 Nature’s Tiny Predators

The species in question, Toxorhynchites splendens, is being bred and released by researchers at Sun Yat-sen University’s Zhongshan School of Medicine. Each larva can consume up to 100 Aedes mosquitoes, making them a powerful biological weapon in the fight against vector-borne diseases.

🐟 Fishy Reinforcements

Foshan isn’t stopping at mosquitoes. Officials have also released over 5,000 mosquito-eating fish into city ponds and rivers to target eggs and larvae before they hatch.

🏥 Emergency Infrastructure

To manage the surge, 53 hospitals have been designated for chikungunya treatment, offering more than 3,600 mosquito-net-equipped beds, with plans to expand further. Nearby Guangzhou has launched a week-long mosquito spraying campaign and published a risk map covering all 120 communities.

🌍 Global Implications

The outbreak marks China’s largest chikungunya surge to date. First identified in Tanzania in 1952, the virus causes severe joint pain, headaches, and vomiting. China’s first local outbreak occurred in 2010, but cases remained sporadic—until now. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly preparing a travel advisory as infections continue to rise.

The article is originally published by Bloomberg News on August 1, 2025. Here's the direct link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-01/giant-cannibal-mosquitoes-deployed-to-battle-china-s-chikungunya-surge