Australian scientists are hailing a major breakthrough in combating the devastating impact of dengue fever around the globe.
Researchers have successfully created a disease-resistant mosquito, releasing it into dengue-prone areas of Queensland with promising results.
In January, a team of scientists released thousands of mosquitos injected with a naturally-occurring bacteria into gardens around Cairns.
After about three months, they found that the number of mosquitos in the wild population carrying a bacterium called Wolbachia - that prevents dengue transmission - had increased to 100 per cent.
The findings could have consequences far beyond Australia.
Climate change, increasing air travel and urban growth in developing countries have all been cited as contributors to an explosion in dengue cases worldwide.
The researchers are now setting up trials in other dengue-prone regions including South America, Africa and South-East Asia.
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