Genetically Modified Mosquito Could Fight Malaria

Malaria is spread by a parasite known as Plasmodium. Endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, and central and south America, the organism is passed to humans through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Each year, malaria makes 300 million people ill and causes 1,000,000+ deaths worldwide. An estimated 90% of malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa, where a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. When I lived in sub-Saharan Africa, I regularly saw people fall ill to the disease. Many would remain bed-ridden for weeks; some would die. It was terrible.

Recently, US scientists claim to have created a genetically modified (GM) strain of malaria-resistant mosquito that is better able to survive than the ordinary disease-carrying insects. Why would researchers want to do this? They think that if they introduce GM insects into the wild, the GM populations will take over. As the regular mosquitoes die off, so, too, will malaria.

Before you get all Jurassic Park on me, let me point out that the researchers claim their studies are still at an early stage, and that it could be 10-20 years before engineered insects might be released into the environment. However, this is an idea worth considering, since it would alleviate the need for poor countries to combat an expensive, deadly disease. Moreover, it would mean travelers could stop sleeping under those annoying mosi nets.

Other ways for travelers to avoid mosquitoes:

• Beating Mosquitoes
• Take Those Malaria Pills!
• Malaria Prevention Wristwatch
• Anti-Mosquito Clothing

Filed under: Gear