Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
On The Zika Front Lines: Genetically Modified Mosquitoes To Be Unleashed In Caymans
British biotech company Oxitec and the Cayman Islands government announced plans Thursday to release millions of genetically modified mosquitoes in the fight against a species that spreads Zika and other diseases. Deployment of the mosquitoes against the Aedes aegypti species in the Cayman Islands is a major advance for Oxitec, which has promoted the method heavily as an environmentally safe way to combat the vectors of mosquito-borne illnesses while confronting public concerns about the technology. (Kay and Fox, 5/5)
Elsewhere, in Washington, D.C., health officials host community meetings to inform residents about the virus —
There’s a donut-shaped disk filled with bacteria that’s toxic to mosquito larvae. Then there’s bug spray and condoms. After three people who traveled to the District were diagnosed with the Zika virus, officials plan to hand out kits filled with these special items to educate and stop the spread of the disease. The D.C. Department of Health will host community outreach sessions in all eight wards on Saturday (May 14) and July 16 about the virus, which can spread via mosquitoes or through sexual contact. Officials said during the sessions, residents will receive Zika prevention kits, learn about the proper use of insecticides and how to reduce mosquito breeding sites in the community. (St. Martin, 5/5)
