Genetically Modified Mosquitoes in Panama to Combat Zika

The idea is to introduce male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with altered genes so that their offspring, after mating with bloodsucking females, die at the larva stage.

Genetically modified mosquitoes may soon be released in Panama on its territory to combat the spread of the Zika virus, said a prominent health official.

The health ministry and a tropical disease research lab, the Gorgas Institute, are evaluating "the viability and feasibility" of repeating and expanding on just such an experiment that took place two years ago, said Israel Cedeno, head of the ministry's epidemiological unit.

Zika Fever - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Zika virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes which causes mild fever with maculopapular rash. No treatment or vaccine is currently available.

‘As the cost for genetic modification of Zika virus are high, government of Brazil has to decide between boosting public information campaigns to urge eradication of breeding spots for the insects.’

As back then, the idea would be to introduce male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes whose genes had been altered so that their offspring, after mating with bloodsucking females, die at the larva stage.

In 2014, the project, carried out in a town west of Panama's capital, resulted in a 93 percent decline in the mosquito population in the area.

Cedeno cautioned however that while the results were encouraging "its cost is high." Because of that, the government needed to work out if the money would be better spent on genetically tinkering with mosquitoes or boosting public information campaigns to urge eradication of breeding spots for the insects.

Zika Virus � A New Mosquito-Borne Disease in the West
Zika virus infection represents another arbovirus or mosquito-borne viral disease to affect the Americas. Currently, there is no cure for Zika virus disease.

In Panama there are 50 confirmed cases of Zika infection, all of them in its Caribbean coastal region.

The World Health Organization has said it suspects the virus might be behind a sudden spike in birth defects in a part of northern Brazil.

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Source-Medindia

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