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Brazil has become the latest country to approve the use of genetically modified mosquitoes, it has been reported.

The reasons given for using these laboratory created creatures is, according to the government, to wipe out dengue fever.

These bugs have been genetically engineered so that their offspring dies before they become adults.

The male bugs carry these faulty genes and then mate with wild females, whose broods then dies.

Scientists claim that this will help to reduce the spread of dengue fever.

The bugs were created by an Oxford firm called Oxitec – the same company that advocates using genetically modified insects to protect crops.

The firm has also held preliminary talks with UK authorities about releasing GM insects into UK fields or greenhouses to reduce pest numbers, despite the fact that dengue fever and malaria is not at all commonplace in the UK.

Panama has also announced plans to use the bugs.

To date, no information about the negative side effects or possible military applications on the use of this bug have been released.

Genewatch – a not-for-profit group that is concerned about the effects of genetic engineering, said that contrary to the claims made by scientists, these new GM superbugs, can actually do more harm than good.

It claims that genetic changes could be introduced into the wild population of mosquitoes meaning that the dengue fever they carry could become more – not less – dangerous to humans.

It claims that if the numbers of the one type of mosquito that is being targeted – Aedes aegypti – is reduced because of the release of GM versions, others, such as the Asian Tiger mosquito, which also carry the virus, could come in and thrive.

Interestingly, the trials of these mutant mosquitoes were first conducted in the Cayman Islands in 2009 and 2010, followed by a smaller experiment in Malaysia in 2010 and 2011.

Afterwards, both countries decided to stop the trial and halt further releases.

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