They released an army of “Terminator” mosquitoes in Florida, genetically engineered to end dangerous threat

Biotechnology company Oxitec, funded by Bill Gates, in collaboration with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD), has released 150,000 genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida since the end of April. to destroy female mosquitoes Aedes aegypti, an invasive species responsible for virtually all diseases transmitted by mosquitoes to humans.

This species, Aedes aegypti, can transmit dengue, Zika and yellow fever among other human diseases. To pets And the animals can transmit severe heartworm and other life-threatening conditions for them.

The released transgenic mosquito, called OX5034, is a second generation created in the English laboratories of Oxitec. The difference is that the first version, the OX513A, was designed to kill all offspring, while these new specimens only kill females.

Male mosquitoes (do not bite. They feed on nectar, not blood) of Oxitec coming out of the release boxes placed at six locations in the Florida Keys to mate with local female mosquitoes (These sting. They feed on blood).

The female offspring of these encounters cannot survive and the Aedes aegypti population will be controlled in this way.. The Aedes aegypti mosquito makes up about four percent of the mosquito population in the Keys.

If the results are satisfactory, they can reach release up to 20 million such mosquitoes.

What does the WHO say?

The new World Health Organization (WHO) guide sets essential standards to inform future research and development on genetically modified mosquitoes, especially for address issues related to ethics, safety, affordability and efficiency.

Malaria and other vector-borne diseases, including dengue and Zika virus, affect millions of people around the world. More than 400,000 people die from malaria each year. If genetically modified mosquito vectors are proven to be safe, effective and affordable could be a valuable new tool in the fight against these diseases and eliminate its enormous health, social and economic burden.

The Guidance Framework for Genetically Modified Mosquito Testing, developed in partnership with TDR, the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, and the GeneConvene Global Collaborative, an initiative of the Foundation for National Institutes of health, describes best practices to ensure that the study and The evaluation of genetically modified mosquitoes as a public health tool is safe, ethical and rigorous.

Current strategies to limit the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases are only partially effective. New and complementary approaches are needed to fill the gaps in current vector control interventions, such as effective control of outer bites.and provide alternatives to manage the growing threat of insecticide resistance. Research suggests that genetically modified mosquitoes could be a powerful and cost-effective tool to complement existing interventions.

“We urgently need innovative approaches to help control mosquito-borne diseases, which are having a devastating impact around the world,” said Dr John Reeder, Director of TDR. “Genetically modified mosquitoes are one such approach, but we want to make sure that they are evaluated in a comprehensive and responsible manner., as described in a recent WHO position statement.

“Like any new public health intervention, genetically modified mosquitoes raise new questions for researchers, affected communities and other stakeholders.Said Dr Michael Santos, director of GeneConvene Global Collaborative. “The updated guidance framework aims to answer these questions and ensure that testing on genetically modified mosquitoes is as rigorous as for other public health products, and that it produces quality results. to guide decisions about their use. These technologies and how they are. used “.

“Over the past two decades, we have achieved remarkable results with existing malaria control tools, preventing more than 7 million deaths and 1.5 billion cases of the disease. “said Dr Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO Global Malaria Program. “However, progress towards the key goals of our global malaria strategy remains flawed. Genetically modified mosquitoes are one of the promising new tools that could help accelerate the pace of progress against malaria and other vector-borne diseases. “

“The incidence of dengue continues to rise, affecting people in more than 129 countries, so we need more sustainable vector control tools to stem the tide of dengue and other arboviral diseases. and some new tools have the potential to control these diseases, ”said Dr Mwele Malecela, Director of the WHO Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

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