Can genetically modified mosquitoes snuff out the Zika virus?

cbsnews.com ^ | January 29, 2016, 1:51 PM | Kate Gibson

[Trumpinator]

By Kate Gibson MoneyWatch January 29, 2016, 1:51 PM

Can genetically modified mosquitoes snuff out the Zika virus?

Humans are trying to recruit a key ally in the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus: other mosquitoes.

Frightening headlines about the spread of the Zika virus are focusing attention on a Nasdaq-traded biotechnology company called Intrexon (XON), thanks to its British subsidiary, an Oxford University spinoff named Oxitec.

[Trumpinator]

This is turning into an episode of X-Files.

[GraceG]

I gotta wonder if genetically modified mosquitoes IS what IS spreading the Zika virus....

I don’t put anything past the population control crowd..

[Buckeye McFrog]

Tonight's feature on Monster Chiller Horror Theater is The Genetically Modified Giant Killer Mosquitoes That Came From Oxford-on-Thames"

[20yearsofinternet]

Pretty sure I saw this method tried in a movie once.

It ended with Will Smith all alone in New York talking to mannequins.

[DoughtyOne]

Please help make FR's voice louder.

Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

click the bottom graphic and support them

[Slyfox]

Bring back DDT.

[JoeProBono]

[Dilbert San Diego]

Sterile male mosquitoes to mate with female mosquitoes??

This is binary/heteronormative thinking. What about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered mosquitoes?? What if the sterile males turn out to be homosexual and don’t mate with the females? What if the females put off family to pursue their careers????

[Mastador1]

Hasn’t the use of sterile mosquitoes, fruit flies been the go to method for eradication of them for decades?

[Vigilanteman]

DDT would be a lot more cost effective.

[Smokin' Joe]

Zika ping...

[MrEdd]

DDT could.

[garyb]

ding ding. you MAY be the winner.

The question may be 180 degrees out of phase.

Try this one: Did GM mosquitoes SPREAD Zika?

http://theantimedia.org/zika-outbreak-epicenter-in-same-area-where-gm-mosquitoes-were-released-in-2015/

The report there alleges that GM mosquitoes were released in the same area where there are high instances of Zika.

[GraceG]

[ ding ding. you MAY be the winner.

The question may be 180 degrees out of phase.

Try this one: Did GM mosquitoes SPREAD Zika?

http://theantimedia.org/zika-outbreak-epicenter-in-same-area-where-gm-mosquitoes-were-released-in-2015/

The report there alleges that GM mosquitoes were released in the same area where there are high instances of Zika. ]

WOW IF TRUE.... JUST WOW....

[ryderann]

Isn’t that how they got rid of screw worms? Released a bunch of sterile males? I think I remember it that way.

[Covenantor]

Here’s the magic control for the following mosquito borne diseases:

Eastern equine encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis
La Crosse encephalitis
St. Louis encephalitis
West Nile virus
Western equine encephalitis
Dengue Fever

Malaria
Rift Valley Fever
Yellow Fever
Zika

DDT available quicker than any disease specific vaccine as yet undeveloped and untested.....

[Trumpinator]

The report there alleges that GM mosquitoes were released in the same area where there are high instances of Zika.

------

I have never heard of Zika till now. What happened - evolution is that quick?

[refermech]

Isn’t this how Jurassic park started?

[foundedonpurpose]

The virus is blowing up in the area of Brazil where they released the gmo mosquitos. You nailed it!

[Blue Highway]

yes