Djibouti Releases Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Combat Malaria

DJIBOUTI, DJIBOUTI— Tens of thousands of genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes have been released in Djibouti as part of a pioneering effort to halt the spread of an invasive mosquito species that transmits malaria. Developed by Oxitec, a UK-based biotechnology company, the non-biting male Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes carry a gene that kills female offspring before they reach maturity, preventing them from biting and transmitting diseases.

This marks the first time such mosquitoes have been released in East Africa and the second time on the African continent. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), similar technology has been successfully deployed in Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Panama, and India. Over 1 billion GMO mosquitoes have been released globally since 2019.

The initial batch of mosquitoes was released on Thursday in Ambouli, a suburb of Djibouti city. This pilot phase is part of the Djibouti Friendly Mosquito Program, a collaboration between Oxitec Ltd, Djibouti’s government, and Association Mutualis, an NGO.

“We have built good mosquitoes that do not bite, that do not transmit disease. And when we release these friendly mosquitoes, they seek out and mate with wild type female mosquitoes,” said Oxitec head Grey Frandsen.

The laboratory-produced mosquitoes carry a "self-limiting" gene that prevents female mosquito offspring from surviving to adulthood, while only the male offspring survive and eventually die out. Unlike the sterile male Anopheles colluzzi mosquitoes released in Burkina Faso in 2018, these friendly stephensi mosquitoes can still produce offspring.

The initiative aims to curb the spread of Anopheles stephensi, an invasive mosquito species first detected in Djibouti in 2012. At that time, the country was nearing the elimination of malaria, with close to 30 cases recorded. However, malaria cases have since surged, reaching 73,000 by 2020. The species is now present in six other African countries, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Dr. Abdoulilah Ahmed Abdi, a presidential health adviser in Djibouti, emphasized the urgency of reversing the malaria transmission spike over the past decade. “Not long ago, it [malaria] was extremely rare in our communities," noted Association Mutualis director Dr. Bouh Abdi Khaireh. "Now we see malaria patients suffer on a daily basis across Djibouti. There is an urgent need for new interventions.”

Djibouti's small size and predominantly urban population of just over a million people have facilitated the rollout of the new anti-malaria project. “Malaria is a serious disease that really affects our health. People are really waiting to see how these friendly mosquitoes will help us win the fight,” said Saada Ismael, a malaria survivor involved in community preparation efforts.

Despite the potential benefits, the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) remains controversial in Africa. Environmental groups and campaigners have expressed concerns about potential impacts on ecosystems and food chains. However, Oxitec's Frandsen assured that no adverse effects on environmental or human health have been documented over the past decade, during which over a billion modified mosquitoes were released.

“Our focus is ensuring that whatever we release in the environment is safe and highly effective. There is no environmental impact. They are non-toxic, non-allergenic, and species-specific,” he added. Oxitec also clarified that the genetically modified genes are not found in the mosquitoes’ saliva, and even if a person is bitten, they will not be exposed to the effects of the genes.

Presidential health advisor Dr. Abdi acknowledged the controversy but emphasized the potential of the new solution. If successful, larger field trials and further deployment of the mosquitoes will continue until next year in Djibouti.

Malaria remains a deadly disease, killing at least 600,000 people globally each year, with nine in 10 of all deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Health Organization. The innovative Djibouti Friendly Mosquito Program aims to significantly reduce these numbers and bring hope to communities plagued by malaria.