In a shocking anything-goes decision, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) gave the go-ahead to release billions of genetically-modified mosquitoes into the Florida Keys.
According to Sustainable Pulse, the FDACS ignored concerns about health risks and long-term consequences of the state’s attempt to rid the Keys of mosquitoes that possibly might be carrying yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
With data from a previous release still not made public, and with data about allergenicity and toxicity redacted from public documents, Dana Perls, Emerging Technology Program Manager at Friends of the Earth, said the decision on the latest release showed that “Poorly done, secretive science and lack of transparency is once again being rewarded with a free pass by government officials who are ignoring the voices of concerned scientists and those most impacted.”
Florida isn’t alone in this, though: The EPA has approved releasing billions of GMO mosquitoes in California’s Central Valley, as well.
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