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The World Mosquito Program is working in Laos to protect communities from mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. 

In 2022, the World Mosquito Program began work in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to combat the growing threat of mosquito-borne diseases.

Dengue is endemic in Laos, with cases increasing during the warmer and wetter months. A year-round threat in the country, dengue cases reached more than 20,000 in 2024, with 11 dengue-related deaths. Dengue epidemics usually peak between May and October.

(Date updated April 2025)

ທ່ານກຳລັງຊອກຫາຂໍ້ມູນທີ່ເປັນພາສາລາວແມ່ນບໍ່?

ຮຽນຮູ້ເພີ້ມເຕີມກ່ຽວກັບວຽກຂອງພວກເຮົາທີ່ກຳລັງປະຕິບັດໃນ ສປປ ລາວ.

Laos
Project sites
1
Number of people reached
1.5 Million
Total area reached
96 km2
Dengue remains a major public health concern in Laos, particularly during the dry and rainy seasons when mosquito populations surge. The disease places a significant strain on the health system, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, especially children. With limited health resources, dengue continues to pose a serious challenge, requiring sustained prevention efforts, active surveillance, and collaboration from all stakeholders.
H.E. Aphone Visathep
Vice Minister of Health
H.E. Aphone Visathep, Vice Minister of Health
Laos_Community Engagement
 

The approach is not an emergency measure but is a long term, self-sustaining solution to significantly reduce the risk of future outbreaks in high-risk areas. WMP's Wolbachia method is also compatible with other methods such as insecticides and vaccines.

Following many years of laboratory research and field trials with promising results, we have received widespread support from communities, governments and regulators around the world.

In our other project sites, long-term monitoring shows that Wolbachia is self-sustaining at high levels in our international project sites up to eight years after release. In areas where high levels of Wolbachia are present, we have not seen any dengue outbreaks.

Read stories from Laos

WMP Expands Dengue Prevention in Laos
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WMP Expands Dengue Prevention in Laos

Laos map
 
Laos

Project sites

In 2025, the project will expand to cover approximately 60 km2 in all nine districts of the capital, Vientiane, and 24 km² in Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet and Champasack provinces. The new release sites will see more than 1.2 million people protected by WMP’s Wolbachia method.

Want to learn more about the World Mosquito Program and our sustainable and nature-based Wolbachia method?