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10 December 2012 10:10
Genetically modified mosquitoes could be used to stop dengue fever in Florida
An army of genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in the Florida Keys in a bid to cut the risk of dengue fever.
The controversial strategy would see the release of non-biting male mosquitoes, genetically modified to pass on a birth defect that will kill their young before they can reproduce. It is hoped that after a few generations Key West's Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread dengue fever, would be killed off. Planned by British firm Oxitec and mosquito control officials, the low-cost project aims to cut the risk of dengue fever in the tourist town without having to use pesticides. The plan needs Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval but some residents fear not enough research has been done to assess the risks of releasing thousands of genetically modified mosquitoes.
In 2009 and 2010 the Keys experienced 93 cases of dengue fever, highlighting the importance of travellers taking out medical travel insurance. Health officials had previously believed the viral disease, which causes severe flu-like symptoms and has no vaccine, had been eradicated in the US.
02 March 2019
A Flybe flight was forced to abort take-off due to the cabin filling with "smoke" while it was accelerating along the runway at Exeter Airport.
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01 March 2019
Holidaymakers will soon be able to take advantage of the first direct flight from London to Scotland's Western Isles after Loganair announced three new routes.
28 February 2019
Over one in five women in the UK wrongly think a smear test can detect ovarian cancer, new research has revealed.
27 February 2019
One in 10 UK adults over the age of 40 is living with Type 2 diabetes, new analysis suggests - but the real figure could be much higher.
26 February 2019
British Airways has revealed the second of its series of retro liveries being recreated as part of the airline's 100th birthday celebrations.
23 February 2019
The price of a prescription in England is set to rise again, the Government has announced, in a move some campaigners have called disappointing.
22 February 2019
Just half an hour of exercise every morning could be as effective as drugs at lowering daily blood pressure, research suggests.
21 February 2019
A British man accidentally used the wrong passport to fly from Prague to the UK, leaving his friend stranded in the Czech capital.
19 February 2019
Hundreds of passengers have had their travel plans cancelled following the collapse of airline flybmi.
16 February 2019
Holidaymakers were left fuming after a "lack of clarity" over Brexit led a Romanian airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
15 February 2019
British Airways celebrated Valentine's Day with a special flight where all members of the cabin crew were couples who work for the airline.
14 February 2019
The "concerning" level of stigma surrounding the human papilloma virus (HPV) could be putting some women off going for vital check-ups, campaigners are warning.