Insects are always repulsive and every one agrees to this statement. Recently, the residents of Florida seems to be frustrated due to the release of genetically modified mosquitos to reduce the insect borne diseases.
Recently, Florida Keys Mosquito Control District and Oxitec Ltd announced a pilot project to eradicate the biting and disease causing Aedes aegypti mosquito. It was considered as one of the sustainable and eco friendly method to eliminate the mosquitoes.
In this project, the non biting genetically modified male mosquitoes will be released from the boxes which will mate with the local biting mosquitoes. As a result the female off springs won’t be able to survive and hence the main motive of this project is to control the population of the disease causing Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Aedes aegypti mosquito species makes up only 4% of the total mosquito population of Florida and yet are responsible for the huge amount of vector borne diseases like Yellow fever, Zika fever and Dengue.
The Director of Florida Keys Mosquito Control District said that it is an important mission by the Florida keys Mosquito Control District to prevent the Florida resident from these deadly mosquito borne diseases. They also said that the mosquitoes are developing resistance against current methods and that’s why they have collaborated with Oxitec Ltd and started this project. The project aims to be eco friendly and sustainable and yet providing a better solution to the vector borne diseases.
Along with the permissions from US EPA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and also with the approval from US CDC, the project will be soon released in all parts of Florida.
It will be released in 6 locations and it is expected that less then 12,000 mosquitoes will emerge every week and estimated for at least 12 weeks.
Also for the project, Oxitec Ltd has raised funds upto $6.8 million in venture capital along with the Wellcome Trust.
