In the frame of IAEA' technical cooperation project RAS/5/066 "Promoting the sharing of Expertise and Infrastructure for Dengue Vector Surveillance towards Integration of the Sterile Insect Technique with Conventional control Methods among South and South East Asian Countries", a training course on Mass rearing and SIT-related activities for the control of Aedes mosquitoes, the major vectors of dengue and chikingunya was organized in Juazeiro and Jacobina, Brazil from 22-26 September 2014. Fifteen participants from eight countries (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand) attended this training course.
The training course took place in the Moscamed Brazil facilities, where there is an active operational programme against Aedes aegypti, a major mosquito vector species. Lectures and practical training were provided by Moscamed Brazil staff members, cost-free experts from Israel and USA, and a IAEA technical officer. During the course, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Aedes aegypti mass rearing facility in Juazeiro as well as the release center in Jacobina, where they saw an actual release of sterile male mosquitoes, participated in monitoring the mosquito ovitraps in houses and were informed about dissemination activities and the local public engagement programme.