Biocentis Engages with Timor-Leste Authorities Amidst Surge in Dengue Cases
Dengue fever, a viral infection primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has reached alarming levels in Timor-Leste, with thousands of cases and several deaths among children reported since late 2021.
In October 2022, Biocentis received an invitation from His Excellency Dr José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, to visit the country's capital, Dili. The purpose of the visit was to meet with him and key national stakeholders involved in efforts to combat the rising burden of dengue in the country. This included representatives from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Red Cross, and the National Laboratories.
During the visit, Biocentis co-founders Giorgio Rocca (CEO), Andrew Hammond (Head of R&D), and Federico Guelpa (Head of Strategy) gained valuable insights into the epidemiological evolution of dengue fever, the state of vector control measures in the country, and the results achieved so far. They also presented Biocentis' cutting-edge technology platform designed to control harmful insect species and discussed the company's ongoing efforts to extend its application to combat Aedes aegypti.
Following the visit, CEO Giorgio Rocca expressed his impressions, stating, "We were impressed by the Timorese Public Health ecosystem and the remarkable work performed by its various stakeholders. The high level of coordination among different entities and a strong commitment to ambitious goals were evident. We believe these factors contributed to Timor-Leste's significant success against malaria, and we are confident they will play a pivotal role in achieving similar results with dengue. The Ministry of Health's openness to considering innovative approaches for vector control was particularly encouraging."
For more information about Biocentis and their groundbreaking insect control solutions, please visit biocentis.com.
About Biocentis:
Biocentis is a biotech company and spin-out of Imperial College London who is re-imagining the future of insect control with a unique technology platform that combines environmental sustainability and unprecedented effectiveness. Biocentis wants to empower communities to combat disease-carrying insect vectors, protect crops and safeguard biodiversity.