Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes

The Wolbachia method is a biological intervention that uses Wolbachia bacteria to control mosquito-borne viral diseases, particularly dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. When Wolbachia is introduced into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (which don't naturally carry it), it reduces the mosquito's ability to transmit these viruses to humans. Additionally, Wolbachia spreads through mosquito populations via maternal transmission, making it a self-sustaining and environmentally friendly approach to disease control.

📝 Short Notes: Wolbachia Method for Vector Control

• What is Wolbachia: A naturally occurring bacterium found in approximately 60% of insect species, but not in Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
• Mechanism: When introduced into Aedes mosquitoes, Wolbachia interferes with virus replication, reducing vector competence for dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses.
• Self-sustaining: Wolbachia is maternally inherited; infected females pass the bacteria to their offspring, ensuring its persistence in mosquito populations.
• Cytoplasmic Incompatibility: Eggs produced by uninfected females mating with Wolbachia-infected males do not hatch, giving Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes a reproductive advantage.
• Implementation: Successfully deployed by the World Mosquito Program in countries like Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Colombia, and India (pilot projects in Pune and Delhi).
• Advantages: Safe for humans and environment, cost-effective in the long term, does not involve genetic modification, and targets multiple diseases simultaneously.