Residents of Florida are set to conduct a rally in front of the state's mosquito control board office on Tuesday, Aug. 16, to protest the planned release of genetically modified mosquitoes in their community as a way to combat the spread of Zika.
Mara Daly, a Florida Keys native, proprietor of a local salon and rallyist, said the goal of the protesters is to let the Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board know that there are those concerned about the potential impact such a move could have on the community.
The issue stems from a plan raised by biotech company Oxitec, which would have millions of genetically modified insects released in the Keys area to help curb the spread of disease-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Oxitec scientists explained that the GMO mosquitoes produce offspring that die almost immediately, which would make them less likely to pass on diseases, such as Zika, to others.
Molecular biologist and Oxitec spokesman Derric Nimmo said they have identified Key Haven, Florida as an ideal site to test their GMO mosquitoes.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful if the Keys mosquito control district could say, 'We don't have Aedes aegypti here — you can't get dengue or Zika?'" Nimmo pointed out.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) gave its approval to have the test release of the GMO mosquitoes in Key Haven in the Lower Keys area.
Using GMO Mosquitoes To Target Zika
According to Oxitec, it has spent the past five years developing the technology to target disease-carrying mosquitoes. The company's plan involves creating male mosquitoes that carry a certain type of gene that would prevent their offspring from growing into adulthood.
Scientists hope the GMO insects would lead to a significant reduction in the number of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes once they mate with females in the wild. This would then prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and Zika.
Despite its potential benefits, many Florida Keys residents aren't too keen about the idea of using their community as a testing ground for the plan.
In Key West, the city government formally opposed the introduction of the genetically modified mosquitoes as early as 2012. Residents are also voicing their refusal to take part in the plan by placing "No Consent" signs on their lawns.
Daly said many of the residents in the Upper Keys she was able to speak to weren't aware that the proposed release of the GMO mosquitoes was a trial.
"People either don't read or they skim," Daly said. "After the FDA had its finding of no significant impact, it became real."
She stressed that there is a need to help educate people about the very real, scientifically proven problems associated with the release of the genetically modified mosquitoes.
A nonbinding referendum has been scheduled for Nov. 8, which would allow Florida Keys residents to vote on whether to let the experiment take place in their community. One ballot question will be set aside exclusively for Key Haven residents, while another will be for the rest of the voters in Monroe County.
