Using Mosquitoes To Fight Mosquitoes With Zika Virus

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 Gorden of The Pulse at Here & Now contributor WHYY explains.

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Reporter

• Elana Gordon, reporter for WHYY's “The Pulse.” She tweets @Elana_Gordon.

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