Close-up of a mosquito on a textured surface, emphasizing insect diversity in Burkina Faso and Mali.
In a lab outside Oxford, scientists at biotech firm Oxitec are breeding genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes to combat malaria and other deadly diseases. By injecting mosquito eggs with a lethal gene that causes female offspring to die, researchers aim to collapse mosquito populations over time. The initiative recently expanded to Djibouti, marking East Africa’s first GM mosquito release amid a resurgence of malaria fueled by an invasive, insecticide-resistant species that migrated from South Asia. With malaria still killing hundreds of thousands annually, mostly African children, this “friendly mosquito” solution could be a game-changer. Though the technology isn’t a silver bullet, experts believe it’s a critical tool. Amid reduced international funding, Oxitec remains confident that innovations like this will lead the fight against malaria’s recent resurgence.