
Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually, prompting a new initiative to tackle the issue with genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) in Australia.
Oxitec Australia, a collaboration between CSIRO and UK-based Oxitec Ltd, aims to introduce GMMs to Queensland, supported by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The goal of the project is to reduce mosquito-borne diseases and combat invasive species like Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which are spreading in northern and central Queensland.
These invasive mosquitoes are known to transmit dengue, a disease that can become life-threatening in severe cases.
Before releasing GMMs, Oxitec Australia must secure approval from the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, which evaluates genetically modified products with rigorous standards.
“It’s similar to the TGA process for medicines, but focused on genetically modified products,” explained Professor Brett Sutton, Director of Health and Biosecurity at CSIRO.
The timeline for the release of GMMs in Australia depends on regulatory approval, but efforts are underway to address this innovative approach.