Bug board OKs release of genetically modified mosquitoes

After nearly 10 years of debate, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District board has approved an agreement with biotech company Oxitec to conduct a test release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Monroe County as part of a mosquito limiting or eradication plan.

The board voted 4-1 to proceed with Oxitec’s proposal, with Commissioner Brandon Pinder casting the lone vote against the test.

The approval comes as the Keys are seeing its second outbreak of the Aedes aegypti mosquito-transferred disease dengue fever in the past decade. There have been nearly 50 cases reported this year, with the bulk of those being reported in Key Largo in the past two months.

Key West had an outbreak of the tropical disease in 2009 and 2010, with roughly 100 cases reported.

Oxitec and the district contend the two dengue outbreaks underscore the need to conduct the test release.

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