A bipartisan group of influential elected officials in Pinellas County is asking the Obama administration to allow the use of genetically modified mosquitoes in the county to fight the Zika virus. There is no reason to wait, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should authorize their use as another means of curbing the spread of the virus while Congress fiddles.
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State Rep. Chris Sprowls…organized an effort…to send a letter…asking for permission for Pinellas to use the GMO mosquito. The letter was signed by a bipartisan group that includes…more than a half-dozen state legislators…and all seven members of the Pinellas County Commission. Yet the FDA says its rules prohibit the emergency use of animal products, and an FDA spokeswoman suggested the county contact Oxitec directly to try a local trial of the mosquito. Then let’s do that.
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Pinellas generally has an enlightened approach toward established science, and local officials are on board. They should keep pushing for approval from Washington as the wait grows longer for Congress to act.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Editorial: Let Pinellas use GMO mosquito to fight Zika
