Biotech Updates

India Starts Research on GE Mosquitoes to Combat Dengue

August 22, 2018

The Indian government launched an 18-month experimental project using genetically engineered mosquitoes to prevent the spread of Dengue and other vector-borne diseases. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes will be exposed to Wolbachia bacteria and then released into the wild to spread the bacteria. Infected mosquitoes would have reduced ability to transmit viruses and aid in the decline of Dengue outbreaks.

The project was launched in Paderu, Visakhapatnam, where there are reported cases of Dengue fever every year. The first batch of infected mosquitoes would be ready by August 30, 2018 and by September 20, 2018 there would be 50,000 infected mosquitoes ready for release into the wild.

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