Scientists in Brazil Fight Dengue with GM Mosquitoes Olivia Becker - VICE
go to original April 13, 2014

Scientists in Brazil have been releasing genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild. It is part of an innovative tactic to combat dengue fever, which infects an estimated 100 million people a year. CCTV's Stephen Gibbs reports from North Eastern Brazil. (CCTVAmerica1)

The future of public health is here, and it’s just in time for the World Cup. Scientists have developed a way to combat the spread of dengue fever by genetically modifying the mosquito through which it is spread. This is the first time that genetically modified (GM) insects are being released on this scale into the public to combat disease. Brazil, which approved a massive trial of these GM mosquitoes, may decide to permit commercial releases.

Dengue fever is prevalent in equatorial and tropical countries, which provide a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Currently Brazil is experiencing an epidemic of dengue fever, with approximately 1.4 million confirmed cases last year, and officials are warning that the mosquito population and the prevalence of the virus will peak during this summer’s World Cup — in three of the major host cities: Fortaleza, Natal, and Salvador.

Dengue is carried by the Aedes aegypti species and spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. It causes fever, rashes, bleeding, and shock. It also causes severe joint and skeletal pain that makes victims feel like their bones are breaking, which explains Dengue’s other common name as “breakbone fever.”

The disease is endemic in more than 100 countries and about 40 percent of the world’s population live in a region with dengue. Rates of dengue have been steadily increasing in recent years due to rising temperatures, which mosquitoes like, and greater mobility of people and goods, which disperses them widely and rapidly.

There is no vaccine for dengue and it is primarily treated with home remedies and medication to treat the symptoms of the disease. Fumigation and larvacides help to reduce the population of the carrier mosquito, but Aedes aegypti has developed a resistance to many of the chemicals used. So more weapons — and mightier ones than mosquito nets and bug swatters — are needed.

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