Genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes in the US are being used to reduce the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya. These mosquitoes target Aedes aegypti, the main type responsible for spreading these viruses.
Male mosquitoes are modified to carry a gene that causes female offspring to die at an early stage. Since only female mosquitoes bite and spread disease, this helps control the mosquito population over time.
The research is ongoing and part of a trial that began in Florida in 2021. These trials followed earlier successful tests in Brazil, Panama, Malaysia, and the Cayman Islands, where Aedes aegypti populations dropped by over 90%.
When released regularly, GM mosquitoes slowly reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area, lowering the chances of disease outbreaks. This method also reduces the need for chemical insecticides.
Researchers found that the modified males behaved like normal mosquitoes, mated with wild females, and passed on the gene. After testing over 22,000 eggs, only males reached adulthood, showing the gene worked. The effect lasted 2–3 months and remained within 400 meters of the release area.
This approach may help prevent future outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases in a safer and more targeted way.
