美国国家公共电台 NPR Florida Keys Approves Trial Of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes To Fight Zika

Florida Keys Approves Trial Of Genetically¹ Modified Mosquitoes To Fight Zika

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In the Florida Keys, local officials are trying to breed Zika-transmitting mosquitoes out of existence. A British company has developed genetically modified mosquitoes that, when released into the wild, have been shown to reduce populations by 90 percent. But in the Keys, a proposal to conduct a trial release of the genetically modified mosquitoes has been controversial. County officials put it on the ballot³, and on Election Day Keys residents approved it. NPR's Greg Allen reports local officials there are moving ahead.

GREG ALLEN, BYLINE⁴: For months now, state and local authorities in Florida have struggled to control the spread of Zika. But although there have been over 200 cases of locally transmitted Zika in Florida, there have been none in the Keys. That's one reason many here oppose the new technology.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

MEGAN HALL: I am going to ask you, beg you, plead with you not to go forward with this.

ALLEN: Megan Hall is part of a small but vocal⁵ group that has fought hard to block trials of genetically modified mosquitoes in the Keys. She spoke⁶ out yesterday at a meeting of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District Board in Marathon. For five years now, the district has been working with a British company, Oxitec, to get federal approval for a trial release of the mosquitoes in the Keys.

The company releases genetically modified male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes into the wild. When they mate with female Aedes aegypti, their offspring die. The company says extensive trials in Brazil, the Cayman Islands and other countries show the GM mosquitoes are effective and safe. But after five years, some residents like Dina Schoneck are still not convinced.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

DINA SCHONECK: I feel like there are a lot of unanswered questions that I hope are answered before any tests are allowed to go through with the citizens of Monroe County because I do believe that there are risks that are not being considered.

ALLEN: Although it doesn't have any cases of local Zika transmission yet, Monroe County began investigating the new technology because it's had big problems in the past with dengue, another disease carried by Aedes aegypti. In August, the Food and Drug Administration gave its approval for the trial, saying it found no potential adverse⁷ impact on human health or the environment.

Because of the vocal opposition⁸, the Mosquito Control District's board of commissioners¹⁰ decided¹¹ to submit the trial to the voters in the form of two non-binding resolutions. One was for the residents of Key Haven¹², the community where the trials were proposed. The other referendum would be for voters in the rest of the county. Because Key Haven voters rejected it, commissioners say trials won't be conducted there. But in yesterday's meeting, the board approved trials elsewhere in the Keys at a location still to be determined¹³. Jill Cranney-Gage is a commissioner⁹ who represents Key West.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JILL CRANNEY-GAGE: Countywide, it passed. So this is a tool mosquito control needs. And again, when you're sworn into office, our main goal is to kill mosquitoes and protect the residents and the county.

ALLEN: Officials in the Keys say the announcement by the World Health Organization that Zika is no longer a public health emergency is in no way an indication the threat is lessening¹⁴, but that instead it's a disease that's here to stay. Derric Nimmo with Oxitec is hopeful identifying the new location for the trials and receiving federal approval will be a matter of a few months and releases could start next year. Nimmo says he's encouraged that the GM mosquito technology gained the approval of a large majority - 58 percent of county residents.

DERRIC NIMMO: So there is very strong support for the use of this technology in Monroe County. And hopefully they'll, you know, move forwards with this trial.

ALLEN: After months of struggling with Zika, health officials and mosquito control authorities elsewhere in Florida are eager to begin their own trials of the GM mosquitoes. Oxitec says if things go well in the Keys, it could begin trials next year in Miami.

Greg Allen, NPR News, Marathon Key, Fla.

1 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

2 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

3 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

4 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

5 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

8 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

9 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

10 commissioners   

n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官

参考例句：

• The Commissioners of Inland Revenue control British national taxes. 国家税收委员管理英国全国的税收。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The SEC has five commissioners who are appointed by the president. 证券交易委员会有５名委员，是由总统任命的。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

13 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

14 lessening   

减轻，减少，变小

参考例句：

• So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。