(Seen on the Web)
Why two billion genetically modified mosquitoes are going to be released in the United States
(Western France regional daily with agency)
|
West France.- Two billion genetically modified mosquitoes will soon be introduced in Florida and California. Their objective is to block the reproduction of the species « Aedes aegypti »vector of many diseases, such as dengue or yellow fever.
Nearly two billion genetically modified mosquitoes will soon be released in Florida and California, reports USA Todayrelayed by RTL Saturday March 19, 2022. The purpose of this operation designed by Oxiteca British biotechnology company, is to reduce the total population of mosquitoes of the species Aedes aegypti in these states.
A safe technique
For this, all the mosquitoes released will be males that have been genetically modified so that their potential offspring do not survive the larval stage, thus blocking the reproduction of the species. A first trial was conducted in 2021 on the Keys archipelago in Florida. Its success prompted the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to validate the development of the project.
This method would indeed have several advantages. First of all, if it ensures a significant reduction of Aedes aegypti, it does not eradicate them completely, leaving the food chain unaltered. The genetic modification carried out would also be safe for mosquito predators, as no carcinogenic product has been introduced. Finally, it would also be safe for humans, because only female mosquitoes bite.
A lack of hindsight
This technique has thus been favored over the drying out of wetlands and the spraying of insecticides to reduce the populations in place. Ultimately, this might help reduce disease transmission through this route, Aedes aegypt being a vector of diseases such as dengue fever, Zika, yellow fever or even chikungunya.
Dana Perlsfrom the Association Friends of the Earth, for his part expressed some reservations regarding this choice with the American media. She notably highlighted a certain lack of hindsight, little scientific data having so far been produced. She thus pointed out various risks, such as the development of a hybrid species or the parallel increase in other species of mosquitoes.
