Mosquito mutant – Genetic modification helps scientists fight dengue virus

Scientists are working at new ways to come up with vector control methods to fight off dengue fever. A genetically modified mosquito has shown resistance to infection by the dengue fever virus. However, the same genetic alterations do not appear to protect the insect against Zika or chikungunya viruses. Although Zika has dominated the headlines in the past year, the dengue virus is potentially more widespread – and more deadly. Dengue fever is in fact ranked by the World Health Organisation as the most important mosquito-borne viral disease globally. The actual number of dengue cases is probably underreported, in part because the disease can be asymptomatic and can be confused with that of Zika and chikungunya. Recent estimates indicate that there could be up to 390 million dengue infections every year, mostly in south-east Asia and Latin America. Of these, about 96 million manifest clinically and are thought to cause 25,000 deaths. Since late 2015,...