Dear Editor,
Genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes would be good if they were all males. The problem we have is that 0.3 per cent (as stated by the manufacturers Oxitec) are females.
Included in the substance added to the mosquitoes is the herpes virus. The herpes virus is one of a few known for its ability to alter the DNA as it resides within your cell’s nucleus and is known to cause encephalitis.
Since 0.3 per cent of these are females who bite, it means they are passing on these herpes viruses to us.
Now, how did I arrive at my conclusion? In Brazil, the GM mosquitoes were released in a very poor village in the north east. Where are they having the problem in Brazil? The north east!
The purveyors are now in a mad rush — supported by some governments (maybe unknowingly) — to get these mosquitoes to as many countries as possible. That way they may be able to cover their tracks and just blame Zika.
GM mosquitoes were also used in Australia and the first outbreak (just a handful) of the microcephaly was found in one of the Pacific islands where they have regular travels to Australia.
I stand ready to be challenged that the source of the new twist to a decades-old (known) virus is not GM-based. In none of my readings have I found anyone else who has made this association, and I find this really sad since it is as clear as day!
What is more sad is they somehow have got countries, multilateral agencies and the media to lend support. We in the Caribbean — Cayman has already used the GM mosquitoes and had no reports (yet) of the disease — should stand up against its introduction to prove that it is the source of the abominable act on our future.
The folks in the Florida Keys are showing their resistance in the thousands — though the media is not reporting it— and we should follow suit.
George Scarlett
Avid researcher
george.scarlett@cwjamaica.com
Genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes would be good if they were all males. The problem we have is that 0.3 per cent (as stated by the manufacturers Oxitec) are females.
Included in the substance added to the mosquitoes is the herpes virus. The herpes virus is one of a few known for its ability to alter the DNA as it resides within your cell’s nucleus and is known to cause encephalitis.
Since 0.3 per cent of these are females who bite, it means they are passing on these herpes viruses to us.
Now, how did I arrive at my conclusion? In Brazil, the GM mosquitoes were released in a very poor village in the north east. Where are they having the problem in Brazil? The north east!
The purveyors are now in a mad rush — supported by some governments (maybe unknowingly) — to get these mosquitoes to as many countries as possible. That way they may be able to cover their tracks and just blame Zika.
GM mosquitoes were also used in Australia and the first outbreak (just a handful) of the microcephaly was found in one of the Pacific islands where they have regular travels to Australia.
I stand ready to be challenged that the source of the new twist to a decades-old (known) virus is not GM-based. In none of my readings have I found anyone else who has made this association, and I find this really sad since it is as clear as day!
What is more sad is they somehow have got countries, multilateral agencies and the media to lend support. We in the Caribbean — Cayman has already used the GM mosquitoes and had no reports (yet) of the disease — should stand up against its introduction to prove that it is the source of the abominable act on our future.
The folks in the Florida Keys are showing their resistance in the thousands — though the media is not reporting it— and we should follow suit.
George Scarlett
Avid researcher
george.scarlett@cwjamaica.com