The technology to eradicate mosquito-borne disease exists(worksinprogress.co)
276 points by benbreen 9 days ago | 237 comments
tl;dr: Genetically engineered mosquitoes (Oxitec's self-limiting Aedes aegypti) and Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes can effectively collapse disease-carrying mosquito populations, with field trials showing 80-95% reductions and dengue infections cut by ~70%. However, Oxitec's technology has languished in US regulatory limbo for 15 years, bounced between the USDA, FDA, and EPA because the 1986 Coordinated Framework wasn't designed for modern biotech. Reforms like clearer jurisdiction, industry-funded reviews (as with the FDA's PDUFA), and expanded EPA capacity could unlock the ability to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases domestically.
HN Discussion:
  • ↑Strong support for eradication given massive death toll and suffering caused by mosquitoes
  • ↑Personal experience with mosquito-borne disease validates urgency of deployment
  • ↑Parallels to other diseases where solutions exist but human/policy choices block progress
  • •Technical curiosity or confusion about how the eradication method actually works
  • ↑Firsthand confirmation that mosquito-free environments are achievable and pleasant