Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes
California is poised to be the second state where genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes are
released, unless the public and California’s government officials demand otherwise. Earlier this
year, half a billion GE mosquitoes were released in Florida. Now, 12 California counties are targeted
for the largest mass releases of GE mosquitoes (potentially including Alameda, Riverside, Fresno,
Tulare, Stanislaus, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, Yolo, Shasta and San Bernardino). This open-
air genetic experiment poses significant environmental and public health risks.
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A pre-emptive strike?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved an experimental use permit submitted by a British biotech company to release millions of genetically engineered mosquitoes into the Florida Keys in an effort to combat Dengue fever, Yellow fever, and the Zika virus.
Yellow fever and the Zika virus currently don’t exist in Florida or in the United States. In 2020, there were 40 Dengue cases reported in Florida, of which 11% were associated with travel, the CDC reported. There were 71 locally transmitted cases, of which 86% were associated with travel.
Yellow fever was previously a major public health concern in the U.S. in the 1700s and 1800s, the Florida Department of Health states. “The last epidemic in North America occurred in New Orleans in 1905. The risk of sylvatic transmission in the United States is low.”
https://thecapitolist.com/biden-admin-authorizes-release-of-2-billion-genetically-modified-mosquitos-in-florida-and-california/