Mosquitoes spread deadly diseases like dengue, yellow fever and zika. Now only they will work to end it. For this, two billion genetically modified male mosquitoes prepared in the lab will be released in the US cities of California and Florida over the next two years.
This initiative has been taken by Oxford UK’s pest control development firm Oxitec. The codename of this species is OX5034. It has been named ‘Oxytech Mosquito’. Male mosquitoes do not spread disease to humans, so the genes of such male mosquitoes have been modified in the lab.
When the male mosquitoes are released into the air, they will breed with the female. During this, the special protein of the male mosquito will reach the female. Newly born female mosquitoes will die before they become adults. In this way the number of female mosquitoes spreading the disease will decrease. At the same time, it slows the spread of female mosquitoes, and reduces disease transmission.
Results effective
Its trial took place last year. During this, millions of mosquitoes were released in Florida. Its results have proved to be effective. After the results were out, this plan has got the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Now 240 crore such mosquitoes will be released between 2022 and 2024. Of this, 200 million mosquitoes will be released in Florida and 400 million in California.
Not dangerous
On how dangerous the new lab-grown mosquitoes are to humans, Oxitec said that they are safe. There is no danger to the environment or humans. The next is still planned after test results came out last year and approval from the EPA.
Who is more at risk
-20 percent people are more prone to mosquito bites
-Twice the risk of biting O people compared to blood group A
Blood group B people are less at risk than O group people
Risk of stinging where bacteria are on the skin
Attacks by detecting the smell of beer drinkers
Worldwide risk –
Every year 700 million people suffer from a disease spread by mosquitoes.
Worldwide, one million deaths are caused by mosquito-borne diseases annually.
It causes 17 times more victims than infectious diseases.
There are 219 million cases of malaria, women cause four lakh deaths.
-9.6 crore dengue cases come and 40 thousand lives are lost.
3.9 billion population of 129 countries under threat of Dengue.
in India-
In India, about 40 million people are affected by mosquito-borne diseases every year.
Mosquitoes are the root cause of Dengue, Malaria, Meningitis, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya etc.
In the year 2000, two million cases of malaria were reported and 932 people died.
In the year 2021, 1.64 lakh cases of dengue were found, in 2019 this figure was 2.05 lakh.
(Source: Rajya Sabha, WHO)