From Biology to Breakthrough: World Mosquito Day 2026
Every year on the 20th of August, World Mosquito Day commemorates Sir Ronald Ross’ groundbreaking discovery linking the female Anopheles mosquito to the transmission of malaria.
This year, we are focused on deepening public understanding of mosquito biology, gene drive research, and the role of innovation in malaria transmission through a weeklong campaign. The campaign highlights the importance of mosquito research and how gene drive technology could contribute to a world free of malaria.
As a current summer intern working for the communications team, I led on the design and development of a wide array of deliverables for this campaign. I created the visuals for our mosquito facts and World Mosquito Day press release and assisted in script-writing for the promotional material of Target Malaria: The Game.
I also edited the new video series ‘Voices from the Team’ and ‘Voices from the Lab’. I wanted the new video series to complement ‘Voices from London’, a series of guest interview videos we produced on the occasion of the Great Exhibition Road Festival.
Launching the second chapter of the Gene Drive Video Series
For World Malaria Day, we shared Part 1 of the Gene Drive video series, now live on our YouTube channel. For World Mosquito Day, we are highlighting Part 2.
Part 2, entitled “How do we create a gene drive mosquito in the lab?”, focuses on the development of gene drive mosquitoes to help control the spread of malaria. It features Louise Marston, a Senior Research Technician from Imperial College London. In a secure lab, scientists design genetic modifications, then inject them as DNA into mosquito embryos within a tight one-hour window using microscopic needles. A fluorescent marker reveals which embryos successfully took up the modification, glowing under special light. Though most injected eggs don’t survive, the ones that do are raised into a breeding colony in an insectary, generation after generation.
Target Malaria: The Game
Target Malaria: The Game is now available for free download on mobile!
The video game was designed as a way of sharing Target Malaria’s work by having an overview of what developing genetically-modified mosquitoes in a lab looks like.
Download here for iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/target-malaria/id6752300363
Download here for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TargetMalaria.TargetMalariaTheGame
Download here for desktop: https://targetmalaria.itch.io/target-malaria-the-game
Players are able to slip into the lab coat of a scientist specialising in molecular biology and the genetic modification of mosquitoes to support the fight against malaria. The game aims to educate and inspire, blending interactive gameplay with gene drive research in the fight against malaria.
Mosquito facts
We shared two facts about mosquitoes that can transmit malaria. The first fact card focused on the number of Anopheles mosquitoes and the number within this species that can transmit the disease, highlighting the Anopheles gambiae as one of these few. The second fact card focused on the difference between a male and a female Anopheles mosquito, highlighting that females are the only ones that bite.
Please feel free to follow our social media channels to see the campaign!
X: https://x.com/TargetMalaria
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/target-malaria/
Global Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TargetMalariaGlobal/ & Uganda Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TargetMalariaUganda/
