The Vice President of Ecuador, María José Pinto, attended the opening of a new Biofactory for the Production of Sterile Mosquitoes. The facility specializes in mass breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are known to transmit diseases such as dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
This initiative is led by the National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MSP). It is part of the National Plan against Dengue and aims to strengthen vector control measures for preventing and managing dengue cases. According to officials, this prevention effort was developed by Ecuadorian professionals.
“The inauguration of this biofactory is a clear sign of where we want to go as a country: an Ecuador that invests in science, believes in innovation and puts people at the center of public decisions,” said Vice President Pinto.
The facility covers about 200 square meters and meets international standards for biosafety and operational efficiency. It includes controlled entry points, changing areas, spaces for larval and adult mosquito rearing, sex separation areas, a laboratory for bioassays and quality control, a cold room, and zones for cleaning and disinfecting materials. “We are not just talking about infrastructure; we are talking about a new way to prevent disease—to anticipate it and protect life with modern, safe and responsible solutions,” added the top health authority.
The project is part of the proposal “Strengthening infrastructure for suppression of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes through Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in Ecuador.” It is funded by the national government via SENESCYT and IDEARIUM’s 2024 call for strengthening public research institutes (YuyaIPI edition), executed by INSPI with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Plans include producing up to one million sterile male mosquitoes per week. Releasing these into the environment will help reduce offspring production—supporting vector control efforts as an alternative to heavy insecticide use. This approach aims to lower chemical resistance risks while protecting ecosystems.
Previously released sterile mosquitoes in Bellavista on Santa Cruz Island in Galápagos totaled around 2.7 million males. This resulted in almost complete reduction of Aedes aegypti vectors there. On mainland Ecuador this year, interventions are planned in Pacto within Chocó Andino—a region noted for ecological sensitivity—where this technology could help control dengue while supporting environmental conservation.
Leandro Patiño, Executive Director at INSPI stated: “This will contribute to vector control strategies and prevention… We are pioneering this technology both nationally and regionally. It is cutting-edge technology appropriate for a national reference laboratory.”
With this biofactory now operational, INSPI together with MSP reiterates its commitment to technological innovation and public health by providing advanced tools against current and future challenges posed by vector-borne diseases.
