News Excerpt:
Genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes were released in Djibouti, East Africa to fight malaria.
More about News:
- Djibouti released genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes in the suburb of Ambouli, as part of a pilot project by Oxitec Ltd, the Djibouti government, and Association Mutualis.
- The release is part of the 'Djibouti Friendly Mosquito Programme' aimed at stopping the spread of Anopheles stephensi.
- Anopheles stephensi is a highly invasive mosquito species that migrated to Africa from South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, leading to a significant increase in malaria cases in Djibouti (from 27 cases in 2012 to 73,000 cases in 2020).
- Unlike other malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Africa, Anopheles stephensi is well-adapted to urban environments, posing a particular threat to Djibouti, where 70% of the population lives in the capital city.
- The species is now present in six other African countries - Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria and Ghana.
- The Stephensi species, originally from Asia, is very difficult to control. It is also referred to as an urban mosquito that has outsmarted traditional methods of control.
- It bites both during the day and at night and is resistant to chemical insecticides.
- Oxitec, a biotechnology company developed a method that uses mosquitoes to fight mosquitoes.
- They have released genetically altered male mosquitoes carrying a special gene that prevents their female offspring from reaching adulthood.
- The method targets female mosquitoes, which are predominantly responsible for malaria transmission.
- This is the first time genetically engineered mosquitoes have been released in East Africa and the second time on the African continent, after Burkina Faso in West Africa.
- The pilot run was preceded by a detailed study of Anopheles stephensi distribution, abundance, and behavior in Djibouti towns and neighborhoods, as well as community and stakeholder engagement over two years.
