Global Spread of Dengue
# 6224
Tonight in Key West Florida the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District will host a special town meeting to discuss their plans to release genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes created by UK’s Oxitec Company, to control dengue.
Here is the notice that appears on their webpage.
SPECIAL NOTICE: Town Hall Meeting about Genetically-Modified Mosquito on March 15th, at the Harvey Government Center, in Key West, from 5:30-7pm
The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District is pursuing trials for the release of genetically modified males in the control of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito responsible for the spread of dengue fever. Due to the difficulty in controlling these mosquitoes, this technology could potentially assist in the reduction of both the mosquitoes and disease in Key West. The District is still undergoing review from both Federal and State agencies for permitting. Please click here for more information on this technology.
As I wrote last October in Brave New Mosquito, Dengue is a rapidly expanding mosquito-borne virus that is estimated to infect around 50 million people every year. Tens of thousands die annually, and as yet, there is no effective vaccine.
After a 60 year absence, Dengue fever returned to southern Florida in 2009.
More than a year ago I wrote about the controversial release of genetically modified mosquitoes (see The Cayman Island Mosquito Trials) by the Oxitec company in a bid to learn how to reduce these Dengue vectors.
Oxitec’s genetically altered terminator mosquitoes have been bio-engineered to carry a lethal gene that the males can pass on to their progeny that causes them to die in the larval stage.
And the early results were very promising.
An 80% reduction of mosquitoes in a 25 acre test area after 19,000 males mosquitoes were released over a 4-week period in 2010.
Since this research was conducted quietly, with little advance publicity, these experimental releases have become somewhat controversial.
The plan in Key West is to release between 5,000 and 10,000 modified mosquitoes into an undisclosed 36 acre block near the Key West Cemetery. These male mosquitoes would be dusted with a florescent powder to enable tracking.
While still awaiting federal and state approval, already the battle lines are being drawn between those in favor of trying these novel control methods, and those opposed.
This report from The Key West Citizen last December.
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.comAn environmental group is questioning the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District's plan to introduce sterile mosquitoes into the Keys to battle the spread of dengue fever.
Environmental groups, like the Friends of the Earth, are vehemently opposed to this project, claiming that this planned release of GMO mosquitoes could have unintended consequences on the local ecosystem.
The FOE Blog on December 21st warned:
Floridians face genetically engineered mosquito threat
The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District counters these concerns with a FAQ of their own on the dangers of Dengue, and the planned sterile male release project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxitec also has a short FAQ page on their technology, which you can access here.
All of which promises to produce a lively town hall debate tonight in Key West.
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Note: Due to a flare up of my Carpel tunnel syndrome, my blogging over the next couple of days may be lighter than normal.
