The FDA allows the use of genetically modified mosquitoes to combat Zika epidemic in the US

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it did not find any significant impact on the environment when piloting insects against the Zika epidemic in Miami state.

The use of genetically modified mosquitoes in the hope of helping to control the spread of the Zika virus has been approved in the state of Florida by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Last Friday (August 5), the Florida government said the same mosquito had infected Zika for 15 cases in the Wynwood area of ​​Miami state, the first cases of Zika due to mosquitoes were also detected in the United States. .

Hadyn Parry, chief executive of Oxitec, the company that created the genetically modified insect , said he was genuinely pleased that the FDA had approved the experiment. Parry also urged authorities to grant Oxitec an emergency license to test Miami insects as a necessary control.

Parry added: "We really feel very satisfied. The male zebra mosquito (Aedes aegypti) is the most popular enemy today. This mosquito carries human vectors and lives in our surroundings. The more you go into the center of this mosquito, the more ".

A sanitation officer is using a spray bottle to kill mosquitoes in Miami state.(Photo: ddp USA / Rex Shutterstock).

Oxitec, a subsidiary of the project at Oxford University, was recently purchased by Intrexon, which specializes in producing Arctic apples and AquaBounty fattened salmon. FDA announcements almost paved the way for experimental mosquitoes to be experimentally tested in Key Haven, a small Florida Keys island. The only obstacle is the voters of Monroe County.

In November, about 52,000 voters will decide whether they want to continue testing. The referendum is not legally binding, but most Florida Keys mosquito control members agree that they will follow the will of the majority of voters. Anyway, the experiment also sparked a multitude of heated controversies and many residents voiced their objections to putting mosquitoes into trial.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are believed to be the main intermediaries responsible for the spread of Zika, a major disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Zika virus is the cause of small head defects with children born with abnormal small heads and suffer from health problems for life.

Oxitec's Florida trial will last from 6 months to 22 months with the goal of reducing the population of the poisonous mosquito Aedes aegypti. Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes when mating with genetically modified male mosquitoes named OX513A will cause their offspring to die before reaching adulthood and therefore no longer have the ability to maintain the race.

Without clear data on how many genetically modified male mosquitoes will be released, Parry said there could be 20 to 100 mosquitoes on each person on the island.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are believed to be the main intermediaries responsible for the spread of Zika.

The FDA announcement on Friday showed no significant impact on the environment after reviewing Oxitec's data on whether to test any Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that cause any chain reaction, such as up the food chain. Thousands of people's opinions are also considered. Parry declined to say what the city had to pay for Oxitec's mosquitoes when the FDA approved this policy widely.

Whether voters Keys agreed to test this mosquito species or even prove it unrelated. Oxitec is also implementing in some other epidemic regions such as Panama, Brazil and Cayman Islands. They have also applied for a trial license in Sri Lanka and India.

Parry said Oxitec is also working on developing another mosquito named Aedes albopictus . Like Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are capable of transmitting Zika virus, dengue fever and chikungunya.