FDA Wants To Test Genetically-Engineered Mosquitoes To Fight Zika Virus

Hoping to slow the spread of the Zika virus in the United States, the federal government gave a preliminary okay to release genetically-engineered mosquitoes.

A 300-page report issued on Friday, March 11, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration came to conclusion that the release of the genetically-engineered mosquitoes would not harm people, animals, or the environment.

First discovered in the 1940s, the Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus (in the same family as yellow fever, dengue and West Nile viruses), previously found largely in Africa and Southeast Asia. Recently, several South American countries, especially Brazil, and a few Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, have seen an increase in Zika virus cases

As of March 9, the Centers For Disease Control had 193 confirmed cases reported in the "continental United States," with the most cases reported in Florida - 49. The CDC reported the same day that the number of cases in Massachusetts had increase from 1 in January to now 3 total.

The genetically-engineered mosquitoes contain a gene that kill offspring. They were modified by Oxitec, a British company. These modified insects have been tested in Brazil, and have shown to be effective.

"If we do get permission from the FDA to go ahead, we are hoping that we will start running the program sometime in 2016," said Oxitec Chief Executive Officer Hadyn Parry, on a media call Friday.

Trials in Brazil, have helped to reduce the Aedes aegypti population by more than 90 percent, Oxitec said.

A final FDA approval vote is not expected until at least after the 30-day public comment period ends.

The FDA received a request from Key West to release the modified mosquitoes to help eradicate the Zika virus. However, some local residents are not completely on board with the plan.

About the Zika Virus

People infected with Zika can expect fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes for a couple of days or up to a week, and hospitalization is rare, according to the CDC.

The biggest risk of the Zika virus is to pregnant women and their unborn children.

Several reports have linked Zika in mothers with Microcephaly in infants, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says. Microcephaly is a potentially life-threatening birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected.

In early January, the U.S. Department of Public Health warned of dramatic increases in cases in the United States.

The Town of Framingham issued an alert in mid-February, advising residents about travelling to countries, with a high numbers of Zika cases. Brazil is one of those countries, and Framingham is home to one of the largest Brazilian populations on the East Coast.

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Photo courtesy of Oxitec.com