Mutant mosquitoes one step closer to release in Florida, Texas this summer. Why?

K. Camero,  The Charlotte Observer,  2020.

Millions of genetically-engineered mosquitoes could be released as early as this summer into the Florida Keys and Houston area in an effort to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved an experimental use permit for the British biotech company Oxitec to test the modified mosquitoes in the U.S. for the first time, according to a statement from the agency.

The company is waiting for state and local approval to begin trials.

“To meet today’s public health challenges head-on, the nation needs to facilitate innovation and advance the science around new tools and approaches to better protect the health of all Americans,” the statement said. “EPA anticipates that this could be an effective tool to combat the spread of certain mosquito-borne diseases like the Zika virus in light of growing resistance to current insecticides.”

 


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