Genetically modified mosquito is developed by a British Company, Oxitec. By transferring the Wolbachia bacterium into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, Prof Sinkins and his team were able to reduce the mosquitoes' ability to transmit the dengue virus. Wild females which mate with male mosquitoes with Wolbachia also produce eggs which do not hatch. The bacterium does not affect humans, said Prof Sinkins. "It originates from fruit flies, so even if humans are eating any fruit they are probably eating little bits of Wolbachia from the fruit flies. It doesn't do any harm," he said.
Last year, it was reported that the National Environment Agency's Environmental Health Institute was conducting laboratory studies to test the potential and risks in the Singapore context. So will Singapore be adopting this method to fight the rising cases of dengue?
Read more about GM-mosquitoes lead warfare on dengue
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