Florida voters AGREE to release genetically-modified killer mosquitoes to fight Zika

November 9, 2016

British biotech firm Oxitec has developed non-biting mosquitoes that will infect Zika-carrying mosquitoes and offspring with a fatal disease
The firm insists it is the only technology available to fight Zika, FDA backs it
Monroe County residents voted 58 percent in favor of the measure
But Key Haven – where the mosquitoes would be released – resoundingly rejected the proposal by 65 per cent

Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published:
13:14 EST, 9 November 2016

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Updated:
14:02 EST, 9 November 2016

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Floridians have voted to release a batch of genetically-modified killer mosquitoes in Monroe County to fight Zika.

Despite dwindling public interest, the virus has shown no sign of slowing down.

New local infections have been announced every day since the outbreak hit Miami in July this year, and CDC director Dr Thomas Frieden has warned that Zika is ‘really not controllable with current technologies’.

Now, in a move that scientists hope could control the virus, some residents have backed a proposal to release a lab-developed group of mosquitoes designed to infect the Zika-carrying mosquito population with a fatal disease.

But confusingly, the county that would host the killer mosquitoes – Key Haven – overwhelmingly rejected the bill by 65 percent to 35 percent.

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Monroe County residents voted 58 percent in favor of the measure. But Key Haven – where the mosquitoes would be released – resoundingly rejected the proposal by 65 per cent

The voters that voted 58 percent in favor of the release are in Monroe County, more than 100 miles south of the outbreak zone in Miami-Dade County, and a drive from Key Haven.

It is not clear what the next steps will be towards releasing the gene-edited mosquitoes.

The vote has been a long time in the making.

The FDA approved the proposal from British biotech firm Oxitec at the beginning of August.

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The company has spent years developing a batch of genetically-modified, non-biting male Aedes aegyptis.

They are mutated versions of the species which most commonly carry Zika.

By manipulating the lab insects’ genes, the scientists have made sure that their offspring will carry a fatal disease, which will kill them outside of a lab.

After reviewing thousands of public comments this year, the FDA concluded the gene-edited mosquitoes posed no real public threat to the people of Florida.

However, Governor Rick Scott insisted it needed to be put to a public vote.

Celebrating the ‘yes’ vote on Wednesday, Oxitec’s CEO Hadyn Parry said in a statement: ‘The voters of Monroe County have clearly spoken.

‘By approving this referendum, they have highlighted the need for new and targeted solutions that will fight against the invasive mosquitoes that carry Zika, dengue and other dangerous viruses.

A batch of mosquitoes have been designed to infect Florida’s Zika-carrying mosquito population and their offspring with a fatal disease that will kill them outside a lab

‘With vaccines not immediately available and many communities deeply concerned about the effects of extensive chemical spraying, there is a major need for alternative solutions to combat the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes.’

Addressing the split vote, he said: ‘While we did not win over every community in the Keys, Oxitec appreciates the support received from the community, and is prepared to take the next steps with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board to trial its environmentally-friendly and non-persisting mosquito control solution.

‘At Oxitec, we remain strongly committed to helping Florida find viable solutions for vector control.

‘Communities interested in pursuing our vector control solution have been advised by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services to contact Oxitec directly to access the technology – and we are ready right now to work closely with any community that is in need of a new approach.’