Thousands have been sickened by a painful mosquito-borne virus in the Caribbean.
The outbreak of the Chikungunya virus was first detected in the eastern Caribbean five months ago. Symptoms of the virus include high fever, headache, and joint pain.
The Pan American Health Organization reported more than 55,000 suspected cases in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and other islands in the Caribbean.
Seven deaths are associated with the virus, and health officials have confirmed at least three cases in the United States.
CBN's Operation Blessing is providing medicine to help treat the outbreak in Haiti. Operation Blessing will distribute the meds to clinics in poor rural areas of the country.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
EDIT: This reply is in regards to a currently removed post.
I don't think there's any data relating the two and we should avoid such statements of alarmism - instantly implying causation in such a way is absolute gold to all who wish to discredit lyme patients, those who have legitimate worries about some GMOs etc..
The virus in question is not "new" and has been known to be transmitted primarily via mosquito for quite a long time. The outbreak is definitely terrible, but it most likely has to do with a variety of factors including overall globalization of travel, mosquito patterns and lack of sanitation in caribbean nations etc.
The idea behind the genetic modification of this mosquito is that it will be unable to survive and reproduce without tetracycline as a significant part of its environment, causing a drop in mosquito populations. Should it work safely, this would be a great development in stifling mosquito-borne disease without the use of pesticides that have concrete evidence of harmful properties.
Regarding the GM mosquito in question, there are certainly some questions regarding the amount, openness, and lack of bias in safety studies performed. However, unlike some other genetically modified organisms (ie Round-Up Ready GMO corn, BT corn) there is no evidence thus far of a deleterious effect with these mosquito. I can't think of any logical links between this particular mosquito causing an outbreak of the Chikungunya virus; if anything, it would likely help to stymie such an outbreak's severity. If I recall correctly, the test release of those mosquito in that are was done specifically because the area had a high level of infections of related mosquito-transmitted pathogens(ie dengue fever etc..).
We should just be wary assigning blame haphazardly as we lose credibility and face when doing so.
[ 06-03-2014, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: Blackstone ]
Posts: 690 | From East coast, USA | Registered: Jun 2006
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
I believe the genetically modified mosquito could be very promising if something similar is done with ticks.
If we could get the tick population down, that would definitely help decrease the spread of Lyme.
There weren't mosquitoes in Hawaii until settlers came from Europe. Release the mosquitoes in Hawaii.
Less chemical pesticides would need to be used if the population of ticks and mosquitoes were diminished.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Lymedin2010
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34322
posted
Regardless of where or how it came from.
Extrapolating to the future this will be the norm. Many organisms will cause many diseases & chronic illness.
The human body is a world that beckons to be lived in & we easily facilitate that with modernization, lack of medical care & ignorance, experimentation, & environmental influences.
The problem as a whole is not going away, it will only get worst & be a more dangerous world to live in. There is no way around this that I see, looking ahead & to the future.
Posts: 2087 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2011
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I do not mean to suggest that you were intending to do so, or posted anything in bad faith. I certainly hope you will not be leaving entirely or have taken the idea that you are not welcome to post.
My post was intended to highlight that someone intending to paint those who are worried about GMOs as being "anti-scientific, with objection based on tenuous connections at best", could have utilized the way the discussion was framed as "evidence" to do so.
Posts: 690 | From East coast, USA | Registered: Jun 2006
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