FDA To Consider The Release Of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes In Florida

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

Chikungunya and Dengue are two extremely painful viral diseases that are now being perceived as a growing threat to the United States. These diseases are commonly carried and spread through insects such as mosquitoes, which have now established a resistance to four out of six pesticides used to kill them. Running short on options, the FDA is to consider a controversial method by British Biotech company Oxitec, which arguably may solve the problem.

The purported panacea would allow for the release of millions of genetically modified mosquitoes (GMM’s) in the Florida Keys. The belief is that if the millions of non-blood sucking male GMM’s are released, they will mate with the female blood sucking carrier mosquitoes, rendering their offspring deceased before they can fly or bite. The problem is that in order to accomplish this feat, female GMM’s, which bite for blood, have to be manually removed. If female GMM’s were used, we run the risk of them biting humans and mixing their genetically modified DNA with our blood with untold consequences.

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