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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsZika outbreak epicenter in same area where Oxitec GM mosquitoes were released in 2015
Zika seemingly exploded out of nowhere. Though it was first discovered in 1947, cases only sporadically occurred throughout Africa and southern Asia. In 2007, the first case was reported in the Pacific. In 2013, a smattering of small outbreaks and individual cases were officially documented in Africa and the western Pacific. They also began showing up in the Americas. In May 2015, Brazil reported its first case of Zika virus and the situation changed dramatically.
Enter Oxitec, a British company recently purchased by Intrexon, a synthetic biology company based in Maryland. Oxitec first unveiled its large-scale, genetically-modified mosquito farm in Juazeiro, in Northeast Brazil, in July 2012, with the goal of reducing the incidence of dengue fever, The Disease Daily reported. By July 2015, shortly after the GM mosquitoes were first released into the wild in Juazeiro, Oxitec proudly announced they had successfully controlled the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads dengue fever, chikungunya and zika virus, by reducing the target population by more than 90%.
Northeast Brazil is now considered the epicenter of the Zika outbreak, which coincides with at least 4,000 reports of babies born with microcephaly just since October. Half of the workforce of the mining sector in the region is comprised of children. Without viable economic alternatives, most children must join their parents in rudimentary mining pits; children as young as two years transport, wash, and crush minerals to earn half a dollar a day.
The particular strain of Oxitec GM mosquitoes, OX513A, are genetically altered so the vast majority of their offspring will die before they mature though Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher published concerns in a report in September 2010 that a known survival rate of 3-4 % warranted further study before the release of the GM insects. Her concerns, which were echoed by several other scientists both at the time and since, appear to have been ignored though they should not have been.
Those genetically-modified mosquitoes work to control wild, potentially disease-carrying populations in a very specific manner. Only the male modified Aedes mosquitoes are supposed to be released into the wild as they will mate with their unaltered female counterparts. Once offspring are produced, the modified, scientific facet is supposed to kick in and kill that larvae before it reaches breeding age if tetracycline is not present during its development. But there is a problem: as a confidential internal Oxitec document divulged in 2012, that survival rate could be as high as 15% even with low levels of tetracycline present.
Even absent this tetracycline, as Steinbrecher explained, a sub-population of genetically-modified Aedes mosquitoes could theoretically develop and thrive, in theory, capable of surviving and flourishing despite any further releases of pure GM mosquitoes which still have that gene intact. She added, the effectiveness of the system also depends on the [genetically-designed] late onset of the lethality. If the time of onset is altered due to environmental conditions
then a 3-4% [survival rate] represents a much bigger problem.
As the WHO stated in its press release, conditions associated with this years El Niño weather pattern are expected to increase mosquito populations greatly in many areas.
At: http://www.healthfreedoms.org/zika-outbreak-epicenter-in-same-area-where-gm-mosquitoes-were-released-in-2015/
Donald Ian Rankin
(13,598 posts)Although this sloppily-written piece of innuendo clearly wants the reader to come away thinking that the release of GM mosquitos is part of the problem, despite only having happened last year, what this actually means is that there are measures already underway that may, in a few more years time, help bring the problem under control.
yardwork
(61,703 posts)proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)Better trust or think fast: http://www.oxitec.com/health/florida-keys-project/
http://www.oxitec.com/who-we-are/our-pipeline/
Our pipeline
Oxitec has a pipeline of products designed to combat insect pests of public health, animal health and agriculture.
Oxitec does basic research and creates product candidates at its laboratories in the UK. Optimised candidates are evaluated and tested in laboratory and field settings in conjunction with partners.
Press Release: Intrexon to acquire Oxitec, pioneer of innovative insect control solutions addressing global challenges
Germantown, MD, and Oxford, England, August 10, 2015
http://investors.dna.com/2016-01-05-Intrexon-to-Present-at-the-34th-Annual-J-P-Morgan-Healthcare-Conference
About Intrexon CorporationIntrexon Corporation (NYSE: XON) is Powering the Bioindustrial Revolution with Better DNA to create biologically-based products that improve the quality of life and the health of the planet. The Company's integrated technology suite provides its partners across diverse markets with industrial-scale design and development of complex biological systems delivering unprecedented control, quality, function, and performance of living cells. We call our synthetic biology approach Better DNA®, and we invite you to discover more at http://www.dna.com/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/122844867
Justin Timberlake: What Goes Around Comes Around
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Oxitec GM mosquitos were released at the Zika outbreak epicenter.
forest444
(5,902 posts)But the ongoing outbreak of this particular strain of nearly-incurable Zika virus occurred immediately after these Oxitec mosquitoes were released in July 2015.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Cases go back to 2012 or so
forest444
(5,902 posts)It's more than likely that some escaped even before their official, 2015 release.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)What happened to the method of releasing sterilized males?
forest444
(5,902 posts)Oxitec tried to create a killer mosquito with a very limited lifespan - but of course Mother Nature had other ideas.
That's why the ongoing outbreak of this particular strain of nearly-incurable Zika virus occurred immediately after these Oxitec mosquitoes were released in July 2015.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)Big pockets blinding the scientists to what they are doing.
The GM crowd is fond of saying that no one has lost their life or been made sick by the purposeful creation of GM material.
But even that statement is wrong.
When the L Tryptophan produced in Japan and that had elements included in it from Gm cultivation methods, over 37 people died. (In the 1980's, nutritional supplements of L-tryptohan were taken off the market in the United States at one point due to some being linked to the disability disease eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS). )
tblue37
(65,487 posts)being prominently displayed on that site. That by itself makes me suspicious of any information the site provides without its being backed up with info from more trustworthy sites.
Oxitec first unveiled its large-scale, genetically-modified mosquito farm in Juazeiro, in Northeast Brazil, in July 2012, with the goal of reducing the incidence of dengue fever, The Disease Daily reported.
By July 2015, shortly after the GM mosquitoes were first released into the wild in Juazeiro, Oxitec proudly announced they had successfully controlled the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads dengue fever, chikungunya and zika virus, by reducing the target population by more than 90%.
The Disease Daily reported...Oxitec announced (and proudly, no less). We can argue causality or lack thereof; but this definitely happened.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)Zika has been around for at least 60 years, only being notable now that it has caught on in the Americas with more people to infect.
forest444
(5,902 posts)Which, as we now know, has proven to be especially dangerous.
NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)We know where the virus came from. It was tracked moving East from Polynesia for years.
Donald Ian Rankin
(13,598 posts)The mosquitos were only released last year. Whether it works or not remains to be seen.
Igel
(35,356 posts)Done. Dusted.
Sure, somebody will claim that nobody noticed this strain in between its initial outbreak in the Pacific and the spread a few years later. Arguments from silence are typically faith-based and result in a lot of unpleasant screeching and huffing about.
'Nuff said, more's too much.
that they think the World Cup visitors brought the virus to Brazil.
Faux pas
(14,690 posts)NickB79
(19,258 posts)There is no biological explanation for how this would occur. GM organisms aren't some mix of mutagenic toxins that convert anything they touch into monsters.
The more likely explanation is that people of the Americas are more susceptible genetically to this strain of Zika than those in Asia or Africa, where it's been endemic for generations. As we've seen for the past 500 years, Old World diseases that were not exceedingly lethal to Europeans have played havoc with those of Native American descent.
proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)Jan. 28, 2016 | Charlie Rose
Excerpt (1:01 min) - Dr. Fauci on the likelihood of Zika's spread
Dr. Anthony Fauci answers "the critical question" regarding the Zika virus.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/899423
FULL SHOW VIDEO - Air Date 1/27/2016
ESSENTIAL VIEWING: Dr. Anthony Fauci interview between minutes 16:03 - 27:00
A preview of Super Bowl 50 with Bill Cowher, studio analyst for the The NFL Today. Dr. Anthony Fauci on the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Fighting ISIS, a new special report from Vice on HBO. Charlie is joined by the correspondent, Ben Anderson.
MORE: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7572685
...The WHOs Lindmeier said on Tuesday that the organisation suspects a link between Zika and microcephaly, but cautioned that the evidence is circumstantial.
...During large outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil in 2013 and 2015 respectively, national health authorities reported potential neurological and auto-immune complications of Zika virus disease. Recently in Brazil, local health authorities have observed an increase in Zika virus infections in the general public as well as an increase in babies born with microcephaly in northeast Brazil. Agencies investigating the Zika outbreaks are finding an increasing body of evidence about the link between Zika virus and microcephaly. However, more investigation is needed before we understand the relationship between microcephaly in babies and the Zika virus. Other potential causes are also being investigated.
And what might those unnamed "other potential causes" be? These questions are currently being examined. Aside: TIMING MATTERS.
Lancero
(3,013 posts)The mosquitos weren't released until July, yet the first major Zika outbreak was in May...
The 07 Zika outbreak in the Yap Islands is another 'lolno' to the theory that GM mosquitos was what caused the Zika virus to suddenly start popping up in other countries. (In fact, after the 07 outbreak health officials actually gave warning about the risks of Zika starting to appear in other countries)
Looks like the same strawgrasping we see from the antivaxxers really.
The other articles at the site are intresting though - Especially this one - http://www.healthfreedoms.org/murdered-holistic-doctors-had-discovered-autismcancer-causing-enzyme-intentionally-being-added-to-all-vaccines/
alp227
(32,052 posts)"Health freedoms"? Wannabe Infowars copycat, I guess.
malaise
(269,157 posts)I remember it was big news in the Caribbean
Zorra
(27,670 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Boudica the Lyoness
(2,899 posts)Africans went to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup in June, and that's how it got to Brazil.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
petronius
(26,603 posts)Mosquito-control efforts are focused in areas where mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses are present.
Mosquito-control efforts are unlikely to be perfect.
None of that adds up to "...the effort to control dengue, zika, and other viruses, appears to have backfired dramatically."
If this article is attempting to make an argument that the GM mosquitoes contributed to the spread of zika, that argument is flawed to the point of not being an argument at all...