Scientists in Brazil are genetically modifying mosquitoes, the carriers of Dengue Fever, to help stop the spread of the disease, according to CCTV America. Last year, 1.5 billion Brazilians suffered from Dengue Fever.
Over 150 recent cases have been reported in India, according to Sify News. "In the past 48 hours, 23 new dengue cases have been detected in Patna alone and the total number of people afflicted with the disease has risen to 80 in Patna," a health department official said on Friday.
Dengue Fever is the leading cause of death in the tropics and subtropics and over one-third of the world's population is at risk of contracting the disease, according to the CDC. Those infected suffer muscle and joint pain, nausea, horrible headaches and eye pain, rash, bruising and mild bleeding (such as a nose bleed or bleeding of the gums).
In northeast Brazil, mosquitoes have been genetically altered so that their offspring will not survive, according to CCTV America. Twice a week, specialists release "hundreds of thousands" of genetically modified male mosquitoes - males do not bite humans.
In six months, the Dengue-carrying mosquito population in the small village of Natal, Brazil has decreased by 90 percent, according to CCTV America.
"We are confident that there is no damage using them in the field," Brazilian scientist Danilo Carvalho said, according to CCTV America. "I think it can help humanity to get rid any kind of disease. It is just a matter of what to do, how to do it and do it properly."
Rio de Janeiro is trying a different method: bacteria. Mosquitoes are infected with Wolbachia, a bacterium found in other insects, according to CCTV America. Wolbachia hinders the mosquitoes' ability to pass on the virus. The infected insects are released in neighborhoods and eventually overtake the natural mosquito population.
The science of engineering mosquitoes that cannot pass on Dengue started in Australia, according to CCTV America, and this is the first time it is being used in the Americas. Indonesia and Vietnam are also trying this method.
