Move to breed anti-malaria mosquitoes on course
Scientists at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) are optimistic about their ongoing research using mosquitoes to curb malaria.
The project started in 2012 and plans to study genetically modified mosquitoes in the Arthropod Containment Level 2 laboratory at UVRI. The study on the genetically modified mosquitoes will only happen after receiving regulatory approval for importation and study of the mosquitoes from regulators. The planned study of the genetically modified mosquitoes is one of the phases in the development of the Malaria Control tool.
Dr. Jude Bigirwenkye, UVRI’s stakeholder engagement manager, emphasizes the importance of continuous research for burdened countries like Uganda to eradicate malaria. He highlights the collaborative nature of the project, involving teams across Africa, the UK, the US, and a local target malaria consortium.
“We have applied for regulatory permission to be able to move to the next level of importing and studying genetically modified mosquitoes within our insectary. We anticipate that we can be able to import the mosquitoes when we get the approvals from the regulators and then work in containment for more than two years and also apply afresh for work that can be done on a confined level to have these mosquitoes tried on a given area,” he said Monday.
The World Health Organization estimates that 608,000 people die from malaria globally, with a staggering 48 daily deaths in Uganda alone. The majority of these fatalities are children and pregnant mothers.
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