The fear of the Zika virus has led to the suggestion that mosquito’s that have been genetically modified should be released in Florida. There is not going to be a threat to the environment according to the FDA.
British firm Oxitec have modified the mosquito – given the name the Aedes aeqypti and has passed tests set by the FDA to determine impacts on health or the environment. The company has claimed that once their mosquito is released, it will keep down the population of the problem one and as a result, diseases such as yellow fever, Zika and dengue will not be transmitted as easily as they have been in the past.
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The young of the modified one will pass lethal genes to any offspring they have, and they will not have the chance to grow to maturity. There have already been some trials carried out in Panama, Brazil and the Cayman Islands, and the claims are that there has been a 90% reduction in the Aedes aegypti.
Oxitec chief executive, Hadyn Parry said that this mosquito has been a threat to the public and has caused the spread of Zika and dengue. As it is non-native to the States, control has been difficult reaching just 50%, and this is not high enough to have any real impact.
There will have to be further decisions from the FDA as to the release of the mosquitos and consultation will take 30 days.