06/May/20

 

Most of the media is treating the idea that the COVID-19 pandemic might have been the result of a lab escape as a wild and reckless accusation. Yet there is a long and extensive history of Potential Pandemic Pathogens (PPPs) escaping from labs all over the world. H1NI flu, for example, is now considered to have been a lab escape, as was the UK’s Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) virus outbreak of 2007. Most of these escape events and their consequences are virtually unknown outside of their specialist fields, however. An article by journalist Sam Husseini provides an overview. Independent Science News

 

 

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently working on guidance for the risk assessment of mosquitoes which inherit GE gene drives. There are proposals to use these mosquitoes to fight malaria in Africa. Testbiotech has published a peer-reviewed paper showing that this poses a substantial problem in risk assessment and that the outcome of any release of GE mosquitoes can massively deviate from what was originally expected. The risks include a higher risk of disease transmission, triggering allergenic reactions due to mosquito bites or severe disruption in ecosystems. To control the risks of gene drives, Testbiotech said "cut-off criteria" need to be defined to prevent the uncontrolled spread of genetically engineered organisms. Third World Network Biosafety Information Centre

 

 

The Maharashtra government has withdrawn its decision to allow sale of #GMO Bt cotton seeds from May 1 because of the danger of pink bollworm infestation. Bt cotton is supposed to be resistant to bollworms. Farmers should be told to opt for sowing operations only by mid-June to prevent a possible pink bollworm infestation of the crop, advised the director of the Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR). Financial Express