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TAKE ACTION: Tell the FDA “NO” to Genetically-Engineered Mosquitos in Florida
(Photo courtesy of Center for Food Safety)
With last year’s approval of genetically-engineered salmon, which is now being contested in court, the FDA continues to put our health at risk.
This time, however, it is with mosquitos.
The FDA is close to approving an experimental trial that would allow the release of millions of genetically-engineered mosquitos into the Florida Keys, the very first time that this has happened in the U.S.
Oxitec, the owner of this GE-mosquito and, ironically, the GE-salmon as well, says that its engineered mosquitos might help reduce the spread of diseases such as zika and dengue by reducing mosquito populations.
While there is no question that mosquito-borne diseases is an incredibly serious issue, independent scientists have criticized the GE-mosquito as potentially ineffective and a risky attempt to address dengue.
Along with the fact that no dengue fever cases have ever been reported in Florida, the Center for Disease Control notes that there is no data from any of Oxitec’s other trials that show a reduction in diseases. And even if these GE-mosquitos cause a significant reduction in mosquitos, they are not going to eliminate the entire mosquito population. It only takes a very small amount of mosquitos to spread disease.
IN SUMMARY
The bottom line is that there is tremendous risk with these new GE-mosquitos.
Not only do scientists have significant concerns about how GE-mosquitoes could impact the health of people and of critical eco-systems, but once they are released into the environment, this living engineered organism cannot be “recalled”. GE-mosquitoes could reproduce and cause unintended changes to our environment.
If Oxitec is allowed to release its experimental GE-mosquitoes without responsible oversight and a good understanding of their impacts on human health and the environment, this will set a very dangerous precedent for other GE-insects in the pipeline, including moths and flies.
Please take action and tell the FDA “NO” to GE-mosquitos by clicking HERE.
Thank you so much for your concern.
