FDA: Genetically modified mosquitoes that do not affect the environment will apply to fight Zika

Based on the recent survey results, the US Food and Drug Administration FDA said that using genetically modified mosquitoes to fight Zika virus does not cause too big an impact on the environment and many possibilities, This option will be applied in the US right in 2016.

Use genetically modified mosquitoes to fight Zika virus.

Self-limiting techniques of Aedes mosquito larvae were developed by biotechnology firm Oxitec, a subsidiary of Intrexon Corp., a synthetic biological group. Accordingly, male mosquitoes will be genetically modified so that their offspring will die before reaching adulthood and therefore, it is no longer able to maintain the race .

Before applying this approach, FDA has conducted a number of tests and preliminary results show that genetically modified mosquitoes do not have too much impact on the environment and this once again reinforces the conclusion. previous essay by Oxitec. It is known that these studies are conducted in the context of Zika virus is at risk of outbreaks in Florida, USA last month.

Oxitec's executive director said, " If we get FDA approval to continue, we hope that the program will begin to be implemented immediately in 2016. " founded by Oxford researchers and later sold to Intrexon Group. They have now developed ways to use genetic engineering to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

Not only in the US but this approach has been tested in other epidemic areas such as Brazil, Panama and Cayman with the result of reducing the size of mosquito populations up to 90% . This time with very positive signals from FDA, concerns about the effects of this approach on ecosystems are also reduced, promising to be quickly adopted, not only in the US but also many other regions in the world.