Public Health
4 March 2020
Budget Cut at Committee of Supply 2020
Louis delivered the following budget cut on Expanding Project Wolbachia at Committee of Supply 2020.
Improving Flood Management
Louis: Sir, Nee Soon East residents have benefited from Project Wolbachia and it has led to a 90% drop in the mosquito population in Nee Soon East. It is good news, but many residents still have concerns about this project.
Many ask me why we are releasing mosquitoes that will bite them. I tell them we are only releasing male mosquitoes and "Males don’t bite".
The next concern is that they tell me the males will attract the females who will then bite them. I tell them do not worry, it is the males who look for the females.
Can MEWR share how we will be increasing awareness about this Project and also whether there are further plans to expand this to other parts of Singapore so more people can benefit from it?
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M (MEWR): Project Wolbachia is a tool which NEA is piloting to manage the mosquito population. Mr Louis Ng conveyed feedback that the initial surge of male Aedes mosquitoes released under Project Wolbachia causes discomfort to residents.
I hope to reassure residents that these male mosquitoes do not bite or transmit diseases – I say this in Parliament – and ask residents to be patient and bear with the initial surge. And I thank Mr Louis Ng for jointly spreading this message with us.