WDYT? Malaria-immune mosquitoes

[crimsonandclover]

I just read in the paper that scientists have created genetically engineered mosquitoes that can't carry malaria. They're planning on releasing them into the wild in malaria areas so that they'll breed with normal mosquitoes, and the subsequent generations will hopefully also not be able to carry it (I don't know if they've already tested if the gene(s) is dominate or what...).

On the one hand, obviously it's great to find a way to cut down on malaria. On the other hand, I don't know how I feel about releasing genetically engineered insects into the wild. I'm picturing mutant mosquitoes that can't carry malaria but do start carrying HIV or something...

Any thoughts on this development?

[anna7602]

Weird. But my mind immediately went two places before rationality took over. First I thought, yay! Now I can take DD to Africa without worrying about the side-effects of anti-malaria pills on a small person. And then I thought, can they do something similar to erradicate dengue fever?

My third thought was, like you, ewww, genetically modified animals, wth?

Apparently the scientists only got as far as my first and second thoughts?

[aMrsin09]

Jun 19, 2012 4:44:35 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Weird. But my mind immediately went two places before rationality took over. First I thought, yay! Now I can take DD to Africa without worrying about the side-effects of anti-malaria pills on a small person. And then I thought, can they do something similar to erradicate dengue fever?

My third thought was, like you, ewww, genetically modified animals, wth?

Apparently the scientists only got as far as my first and second thoughts?

They are currently testing something like that here in my area. They are giving mosquitoes something that prevents the native mossies from transmitting dengue.

[fernane]

Jun 19, 2012 4:44:35 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

Weird. But my mind immediately went two places before rationality took over. First I thought, yay! Now I can take DD to Africa without worrying about the side-effects of anti-malaria pills on a small person. And then I thought, can they do something similar to erradicate dengue fever?

My third thought was, like you, ewww, genetically modified animals, wth?

Apparently the scientists only got as far as my first and second thoughts?

How old is your DD? When I was in middle school I spent 2 years n Africa and most everyone I knew (including much younger childre) took Lariam. I never heard about anyone having egative side affects..I guess it happens occasionally, but so do horrible side effects from immunizations. I thought all the immunizations and anti malarial were totally worth it and wish I could provide the same opportunity for LO

[Cheesecake]

Lariam has been associated with severe mental health issues and suicide in teens/young adults whi tiok it as a young child. Bad news!

I have fat fingers, please excuse typos!

[fernane]

Jun 19, 2012 8:58:55 GMT -5 Cheesecake said:

Lariam has been associated with severe mental health issues and suicide in teens/young adults whi tiok it as a young child. Bad news!

I have fat fingers, please excuse typos!

Hmmm..guess I was lucky then! Well beyond my teens!

[Wanderista]

I do generally think this is a good idea. Any measures that might be taken to contain this pervasive illness are definitely worth pursuing, but indeed, it is good to be cautious.

It does remind me of the whole "killer bee" problem, wherein very aggressive bees were accidentally released into the wild producing a much more aggressive population that is spreading. Hopefully the researchers who are creating the mosquitos are controlling for extraneous factors like that.

Invasive species can be a real pain though. As long as the natural predators will accept the hybrid mosquitos into the food chain, then it should be ok.

[allibally]

I was just thinking how well the "killer" bees thing went.

[Deleted]

I am a bit old school, but I don't like the idea of it. I just feel like there is no way of knowing the long-term consequences and that could be worse than the original problem. (then again, it could be better, so what do I know!)

[clickerish]

Jurassic Park. Not real, but still scary.

And I took quinine as a child...still alive but was that stuff ever disgusting.

[Wanderista]

I've never had to take anti-malarials. That was another factor in favor of our going to the Egyptian desert this year.

A friend of mine who has traveled more adventurously went camping for several weeks in Madagascar as part of a tour. She said that the pills gave her weird hallucinagenic dreams. Someone else in the group experienced the same, "I had a dream that I was flying but there was no plane." Kind of freaky, but the only person in the group who caught malaria was the one who was sloppy about taking the anti-malarials and did not take them everyday. If I went somewhere that needed them I would stick to the pills.