Iran Signs Memorandum on Nuclear Technology for Medical Applications to Control Dengue Fever Through Radiation-Sterilized Mosquitoes

Recently, the Iranian Ministry of Health and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the application of nuclear technology in the healthcare sector. Iranian Health Minister Mohammad-Reza·Zafarqandi and AEOI Chairman Mohammad·Eslami signed the agreement, with the primary goal of controlling the Aedes mosquito population through the sterile insect technique (SIT) to combat dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika virus.

It is understood that SIT is an environmentally friendly pest control method: male mosquitoes are mass-reared, sterilized using radiation, and then released to significantly reduce mosquito populations. Both parties will utilize Iran's scientific, research, and technological capabilities to establish a mass-rearing center for Aedes aegypti, and conduct pilot and field studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the technique. AEOI will assist in providing gamma ray or X-ray irradiation equipment, training personnel, providing experts in the fields of irradiation and dosimetry, and ensuring the performance and maintenance of the delivered equipment.

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the primary vectors for transmitting dengue fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya virus, and both have been found within Iran. Aedes aegypti was first detected in Hormozgan Province in 2019 and has now appeared in Hormozgan Province, Sistan and Baluchestan Province (Chabahar and Konarak), Bushehr Province, and Fars Province; Aedes albopictus has been detected in northern and northwestern provinces including Gilan Province, Mazandaran Province, Ardabil Province, East Azerbaijan Province, and Zanjan Province. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that approximately half of the world's population is at risk of dengue infection, with an estimated 100 million to 400 million people infected annually.

Dengue fever is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, and can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and mother-to-child transmission. There is currently no specific treatment for dengue fever or severe dengue fever; early detection and timely access to appropriate medical care can significantly reduce the mortality rate of severe cases; approximately 40% to 80% of patients have mild or no symptoms, and adhering to hygiene practices can reduce cases by 70%. Mosquitoes need only a small amount of water to lay eggs, and water-holding containers such as bowls, cups, fountains, tires, buckets, and vases are all breeding sites. It is reported that this memorandum expands nuclear technology from the energy sector to public health. If pilot and field studies confirm its effectiveness, it may provide a new means for the prevention and control of mosquito-borne infectious diseases in Iran, and promote the application of nuclear technology in non-energy fields such as healthcare and agriculture.