© 2023 WOSU Public Media
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
WOSU TV is experiencing intermittent issues on Spectrum Cable. Watch the live stream on the free PBS app.

Using Mosquitoes To Fight Mosquitoes With Zika Virus

Dr. Andrew McKemey releases Oxitec male mosquitoes in Brazil. (Courtesy of Oxitec)
Dr. Andrew McKemey releases Oxitec male mosquitoes in Brazil. (Courtesy of Oxitec)

Health officials in Brazil say the country is “badly losing the battle” against the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Since November, more than 3,800 babies have been born in Brazil with microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disorder, to mothers infected with the Zika virus during their pregnancy. That’s compared to 146 cases of microcephaly in 2014.

Researchers are trying to find ways to battle the disease, including introducing genetically-modified mosquitoes that would pass along a gene to other mosquitoes that would help wipe out the population. Reporter Elana Gordenof The Pulse at Here & Now contributor WHYY explains.

Reporter

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.