Mosquito chairman explains GMM’s position

THEOn August 18, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) committee voted 4 to 1 to approve trials using Oxitec’s second-generation genetically engineered mosquitoes (GMM). The success of this technique could help control mosquito-borne diseases here in the future. GMM is one of the three important germicidal insect techniques for FKMCD, and this technique can bring some significant benefits. The decision to try GMM has been made for over a decade and has received the necessary regulatory approvals for safety from EPA, CDC, FDA, Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida Health Department, Florida Environmental Protection Department, and Florida Fish. Wildlife and other state regulatory agencies. It is difficult to effectively infer this large collective strength of our country’s and world’s leading doctors, scientists and researchers. In addition, as a result of a non-binding referendum in Monroe County in 2016, 58% of voters agreed to try GMM. This margin is larger than that obtained by most winning politician candidates. The trial began in 2021, with the location of the trial shortly announced, followed by extensive public education on GMM in these areas. The details of the study have been approved by the regulatory agency and CDC assists in the supervision of the study and the evaluation of the results.

This trial is necessary because South Florida is a “controversial hotspot” in the United States for mosquito-borne diseases predominantly carried in the United States. Aedes aegypti mosquito. These include yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and zika. The numbers of these mosquitoes and the threat of disease continue to increase in many areas of the key. in addition Aedes aegypti While regulations reduce the stockpile of chemicals, mosquitoes are resistant to the better pesticides used to control them. Most mosquito-borne viruses have no cure or vaccine, so the only way to control these viruses is to control them. It is the responsibility of mosquito control and we have to find a solution. All experts agree that new technologies are needed to combat this real threat to the community and can be superior to using mosquitoes to kill them. For many years, FKMCD has been actively working to bridge this global technology gap in mosquito control, avoiding local epidemics. Now you’re ready to take the first step.

But not everyone is in favor of the trial. Opponents of the project had ample opportunity to express their concerns in writing to the federal, state, and local governments, some of whom met directly with their agencies. Each dissent was scrutinized and answered at the federal level. Without exception, all challenges were determined to have no or negligible potential impact on the Keys people, wildlife, or the environment. This information is a public record.

The FKMCD has one of the highest ratings in the country and the board takes public health responsibilities seriously. We live here too! We welcome honest science-based discussions to find the best solution. However, many opposition, focused on twisted facts, the “what if” assumption, and the “Jurassic Park,” fear a soliloquy. Opponents made their remarks, but their remarks were not final. Considering the total number of these approved regulators, after hearing their opinion, they received hundreds of second opinions. We’ve heard all the hypotheses about what a male GMM flying around you might do, but we know exactly what an infected wild woman is doing Aedes aegypti I have mosquitoes. Unfortunately, the current outbreak of dengue in Upper Key has further highlighted the need for new technology. Don’t waste your time, as there are other high-risk areas in the key.

We now have safety regulatory approvals and finally have the opportunity to determine if it works locally. If so, this may be a real game changer for Key and World Mosquito Control. Please wait.

Best regards,

Phil Goodman
Commissioner, District II, Board Chair
Florida Keys Mosquito Control District
305.600.8441