Florida Keys 15th March

background

• Foundation– Oxford University– 2002 – Private company, 40 staff

• Collaborations– US Department of Agriculture– University of California, Irvine and Colorado State Univ– Institut Pasteur, France– Ministry of Health, Malaysia– Gorgas Institute, Panama– Mosquito Research and Control Unit, Cayman– GBIT, India– Moscamed / University of Sao Paulo Brazil– SIPPE China

goals

Combat insect borne diseases

Improve crop yields

through the reduction of the insect population causing disease or damaging crops

genetic approach that is safe, sustainable, economic and applicable to many insect species worldwide

dengue fever

• 50 -100 million cases pa, increasing• One main vector worldwide; Aedes aegypti• Invasive species in most countries• Symptoms – joint/muscle pain ‘Breakbone fever’• Severe form Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF)• No medication or vaccine• Same vector – Chikungunya and Yellow Fever

Dengue is a global unmet health challenge

reported dengue cases

Region of Caribbean and Central America

Sources: PAHO/WHO

Why is dengue growing?

• ‘Dengue prevention and control solely depends on effective vector control measures’ WHO

• Aedes aegypti is an invasive species in most countries

• highly adapted to the urban environment

• very difficult to control with larvicides or insecticides

•lays eggs in many small water containers•lives in and around the home

Oxitec’s solution

RIDL®

sterile insect techniques

• Benefits– environmentally friendly– males actively seek females– proven approach– long history

• Major programmes– New World screw worm– Cotton (Pink bollworm)

Citrus (Medfly) • But, has not proved viable in

mosquitoes

• Benefits– proven in mosquitoes– applicable to local area control– many species– minimal fitness penalty– male only release– ‘built in’ monitoring

benefits of Oxitec’s approach

• reduction in target insect population

• species specific

• self limiting strategy, controllable

• defined area

• low environmental impact – APHIS (USDA) Environmental Impact

Statement: approach is ‘environmentally preferable’ to available alternatives.

1

releases

The releases are made at predetermined points by hand or from the back of a truck

Cayman Islands open trial 2010

July- releases at target level

August- popn starts to decline

October-Control

public engagement

Thank you!

www.oxitec.com