Genetically modified mosquitoes released in the US: How they can prevent disease outbreaks
Genetically modified mosquitoes released in the US: How they can prevent disease outbreaks
Tags: Aedes, Dengue, Gene drive, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Mosquitoes, North AmericaTOI Lifestyle Desk, Times of India, 2025.
The menace of mosquito-borne illnesses is growing in the US and the contributing factors range from climate change to their expanding habitats. The solution could lie in genetically modified mosquitoes that hold the capability to effectively control mosquito populations. Recently, genetically modified mosquitoes were released in Florida, US, following the successful trials in Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Panama, and Malaysia, where populations of aedes aegypti dropped by at least 90%. A significant step forward in preventing the deadly mosquito-borne illnesses, the bioengineered male aedes aegypti mosquitoes were introduced into the environment. While these deadly species make up for 4% of the total local mosquito population, they are enough to wreak havoc. It is to be noted that female aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the primary vectors that can transmit dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya viruses to humans.
