SHAH ALAM, March 21 -- The Selangor government has added a new weapon in its war against the dengue outbreak and the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Health, Welfare, Women Empowerment and Family executive councillor Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said the state is releasing Aedes eggs infected with the Wolbachia bacteria that can stop the dengue virus from replicating.

"This year we have a new strategy in controlling and eradicating dengue. Together with the Health Ministry we are trying to control it using the Wolbachia bacterium. This bacterium is common among insects but it does not infect the Aedes aegypti.

"However, we have successfully infected Aedes mosquito eggs with Wolbachia and we will release the infected eggs into the dengue hotspots. On...