Engineered Mosquitoes Could Prevent Zika Virus

Can this test solve and prevent the spread of Zika Virus?

           The federal government has already placed these genetically engineered mosquitos to the test in a small area near Brazil and many other countries, which are suffering from this harmful virus. These genetically engineered insects contain a gene that will be distributed across these affected areas. The task that these insects will play will be using the harmful gene to kill the offspring of the affected mosquitos to stop the spread of the disease. Overall the release of these engineered mosquitos has shown a gradual decrease in the spread of Zika virus and has suppressed dengue fever in these areas.

           


Genetically Engineered Mosquito

Furthermore, these genetically engineered mosquitoes are developed by a British company called Oxitec, and they have developed these insects by inserting a gene that can help them mate with the female mosquitoes that contain the Zika virus. This will help prevent the Zika virus from spreading because if this mating is to occur the resulting offspring won't live till adulthood hence the Zika virus won't continue to spread.

On what basis, did the FDA approve this test to be committed?

To conclude, the decision for approval came soon after the FDA was given a 300 page report providing factual evidence of how the engineered mosquitoes behaved in the wild. And soon after it was said that they wouldn't establish themselves in the wild because they were programmed to die soon after completing their mission for the transmission of the gene to the affected offspring. 

*The report also stated the engineered mosquitoes wouldn't be a danger to the people of the area because it didn't contain a toxic that can be otherwise harmful. I believe that this step will help prevent the virus from spreading. The company should now decide to release these genetically modified mosquitoes into other affected areas to stop the spread of this Zika virus fast otherwise one area will be infiltrated with more mosquitoes that have obtained this virus than the surrounding areas that aren't as bad.