In today’s global health news, the Zika virus has made a large appearance, infecting citizens throughout the world. This virus is not fresh, as the first case was discovered in 1947 in the forests of Uganda, eventually traveling to all parts of the world. This virus is now peaking as citizens are starting to link their infections with the Zika virus, which many have failed to do in the past. With this outbreak, the F.D.A has worked with the Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a genetically modified mosquito to suppress mosquitos carrying the virus.
An important topic of conversation concerns whether or not this will be effective in fighting off the Zika virus. According to the F.D.A, these genetically modified mosquitoes have numerous benefits in order to combat the Zika virus once and for all. The main objective is for these GMO mosquitoes to suppress the ones that transmit the virus, as well as another infection, known as Dengue fever. The GMO’s, developed by a British Company, Oxitec, have inserted a gene inside them that kills the infected insects. The males are released to mate with wild females killing those they mate with that are infected with Zika, As for the offspring, they will die before they can reach adulthood. Establishment by the GMO is unlikely, as they are programmed to die resulting in an overall decrease of mosquito population as the eliminated Zika infected mosquitoes will not be replaced by the GMO’s that kill them.
Will these new GMO’s be safe to release to populated areas? This has been a large topic of discussion as the opposing side has questioned the nature of the GMO’s, but the F.D.A has fired back releasing information that the GMO’s will pose no harm to people, the environment, or animals (besides the mosquitoes carrying the virus). The male mosquitos with GMO’s do not bite, although the females can bite, their extra proteins do not appear to be allergenic or toxic, as their saliva contains undetectable amounts of the excess proteins. A main concern of this new animal drug warfare is the true necessity of it. The F.D.A reveals that as of now the defense against controlling mosquitoes is by spraying insecticides across areas, which has not proved effective. It is time to take a different approach in the eyes of the F.D.A, but they are struggling to achieve public approval on the issue.
I personally feel as though drug warfare through GMO’s is a very new idea that has not been thoroughly tested before. Due to the current expansion of the Zika virus there does need to be a suppressor, but is this answer the one we are looking for?
