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Malaysia Mulls Releasing GM Mosquitoes to Combat Dengue Fever

by VR Sreeraman on August 29, 2010 at 12:08 PM Dengue News

Malaysia is considering releasing genetically modified mosquitoes designed to combat dengue fever, in a landmark field trial that has come in for criticism from environmentalists.

Malaysia Mulls Releasing GM Mosquitoes to Combat Dengue Fever

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In the first experiment of its kind in Asia, 2,000-3,000 male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes would be released in two Malaysian states in October or November.

The insects in the study have been engineered so that their offspring quickly die, curbing the growth of the population in a technique researchers hope could eventually eradicate the dengue mosquito altogether.

Females of the Aedes species are responsible for spreading dengue fever, a sometimes deadly illness that has killed 100 people so far this year in Malaysia alone.

The World Health Organization estimates worldwide infections at 50 million annually. Numbers have grown dramatically in recent decades, due to rapid urbanisation and enhanced mobility that has carried the virus further afield.

The proposal field trial follows a series of lab tests conducted in Malaysia since 2006, and the government is seeking public feedback before moving to the next step.

But environmentalists are not convinced, and are concerned the genetically modified (GM) mosquito could fail to prevent dengue and could also have unintended consequences.

"Once you release these GM mosquitoes into the environment, you have no control and it can create more problems than solving them," said Gurmit Singh, head of the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development.

"There are a lot of risks involved," he told AFP.

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More News on: Dengue Fever, Dengue / Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Mosquito Diseases, Genetically Modified Food, Dengue, Dengue and Homeopathy, Chikungunya , Febrile Fits / Febrile Convulsions , Chikungunya and Homeopathy, Fever

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JEONGCP(Guest)

09/09/2010

"Genetically Modified Made-in-Malaysia Mosquitoes : A First for Malaysian Biotechnology Industry" The IMR of Malaysia has applied for approval from the National National Safety Board[NSB] to release at least 30,000 genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild at two targeted areas ie The State of Pahang and the UNESCO state of Malacca. Public objection have been brewing up to disallow the release of these GM mosquitoes into the wild. Unless more convincing tests are forthcoming -and this is lacking under the current proposed "Emergency Response Plan"and "Risks Assessment" reports provided by IMR as required by the Biosafety Act 2007, there is a need to delay such release pending further credible field-tests. .................. Jeong Chun phuoc Lecturer-in-Law and an advocate in Strategic Environment and Taxation Intelligence(SETI) He can be contacted at Jeongphu@yahoo.com

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Malaysia Mulls Releasing GM Mosquitoes to Combat Dengue Fever

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