Genetically Modified Mosquitoes and Disease Control

This assignment delves into the controversial topic of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes as a means to control vector-borne diseases such as Zika, malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. It examines the potential benefits and risks associated with GM mosquitoes, including their effectiveness in disease eradication, environmental impacts, and possible side effects from treatment drugs. The assignment encourages critical analysis of scientific evidence and weighs the advantages against the potential drawbacks of utilizing GM mosquitoes for disease control.

Infectious Diseases
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Vector borne diseases has several impacts and complications on human health. Recent studies
and trends depicts Genetically Modified (GM) vector borne diseases that are carried by
mosquitoes from one person to another often leading to an epidemic (Little, 2014). Incidence of
vector borne diseases are high in tropical countries but are often carried to other countries as well
through persons travelling or visiting those places. WHO estimates life threatening vector borne
diseases affect almost 90% of the population in tropical countries. Zika recently carried by Aedes
aegypti mosquito typical to Brazil had become a life threatening disease. Scientists have growing
fear regarding GM mosquitoes and their effect that they could have on the environment through
their gene transfer. Treatment for such GM male mosquito in lab grown conditions through
sexual reproduction is also limited (Gubler, 2009). Thus, the fear put forward by GM mosquitoes
and their scientific evidence to eradicate vector borne diseases as malaria, dengue, zika and
chikungunya are immense. There are also concerns in regards to side effects that arise from
morbidity and mortality from drugs of these diseases. A prominent example of side effects
include birth defects from microcephaly that is used against Zika virus have impacted
innumerous lives. Benefits needs to be analysed against the possible impacts from these various
opponents of GM mosquitoes. As scientists are still puzzled and needs to devise methods for
arriving at suitbale lab methods for eradicating such diseases. Impact on lives from such vector
borne diseases are multifold in nature and continue to raise death rates globally.
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Reference Lists
Gubler, D. J. 2009. Vector-borne diseases. Revue scientifique et technique, 583.
Little, S. E. 2014. Vector-borne diseases. GEORGIS'PARASITOLOGY FOR VETERINARIANS-
Pageburst E-Book on Kno10: GEORGIS'PARASITOLOGY FOR VETERINARIANS-Pageburst
E-Book on Kno, 241.
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