Florida will release 750 million mosquitoes that have been genetically modified over two years. The goal is to reduce the number of mosquitoes that transmit diseases like dengue or the Zika virus.
The pilot project will move forward despite criticism from various environmental groups that have warned of the possible damage that the experience can cause to ecosystems.
They also warn of the potential breeding of insecticide-resistant and hybrid mosquitoes.
The plan is to release mosquitoes in 2021 in the Florida Keys area (made up of several islands) and where insects inhabit areas of stagnant water and have developed resistance to insecticides.
In May, the US Environmental Agency granted permission for the experiment to Oxitec, a British company that produces mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti genetically modified males, known as OX5034.
These mosquitoes are known to spread deadly diseases to humans, like dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
Only female mosquitoes bite humans because they need blood to produce eggs. Therefore, the plan is to release the modified male mosquitoes and wait for them to mate with the wild females.
However, male mosquitoes carry a protein that kills any female offspring before they reach adulthood and can be dangerous to humans.
Males, which feed only on nectar, will survive and pass the genes on to their offspring.
With time, the goal is to reduce the mosquito population Aedes aegypti in the area and, thus, reduce the spread of diseases to man.
Or environmental group Friends of the Earth criticizes the project. “The release of genetically modified mosquitoes will put Florida residents, the environment and endangered species at unnecessary risk in the midst of a pandemic.”
But an Oxitec scientist told the AP news agency: “We have already released more than a billion of our mosquitoes over the years. There is no potential risk to the environment or to humans “.
– .
