Case Study - Malaysia
ISBGMO11 Workshop on GM
Mosquitoes
Dengue and chikungunya in Malaysia
• Dengue (serotypes 1 to 4) and chikungunya are 5 viral fevers
effectively
• US$133 million/year cost to Malaysia (Lee et al. 2009), 78% on
clincial healthcare
• Up to another US$ 171 million tourism loss if there is a severe
outbreak
Aedes aegypti is not native to Malaysia; It is an
African mosquito which spread around the tropics
due to human activity (e.g. used tyres) only a
century ago.
2
Malaysia: reported and projection in 2010 with
existing vector controls
3
Oxitec Dengue Project
in Malaysia
•
Dengue costs Malaysia mean $133m pa
in vector control and healthcare
•
Govt Dengue Strategic Plan calls for 10%
reduction in cases per year
•
Oxitec invited to trial OX513A (A. aegypti)
by Ministry of Health – collaboration since
2006
•
3 years independent evaluation by the
Institute for Medical Research (IMR)
•
Laboratory trials
•
Field house
Purpose built quarantine field-house
•
•
Laboratory No significant difference
between OX513A and control wild
type strain in all life history
parameters
Field House No statistical difference
in mate selection between wild type
and OX513A of either background
Number of females that mated with
OX513A males
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
52%
45%
RIDL
RIDL
Asian
Latin
Wild type
65
49
RIDL
70
40
Minimum standard for Medfly
Field site selection
•
•
1st Site Bentong
2nd Site Melaka
•
Over 50 potential sites identified and
entomological surveys conducted
Field site criteria
• 2-8000 human pop
• geographically isolated
• cooperation of local authorities
and community
• stable mosquito population
3 sites with > 1 year of mosquito
population monitoring data
Decision process – Open field release
Institutional Process
Institutional Research
Committee (JPP)
Federal ( National) Process
DG/IMR
Malaysian Biosafety Act 2007
(implemented Dec 2009)
• Institutional Bio safety committee
June 2009
Applicant
• Ethics committee August 2009
• GMAC – June 2010
OSH Committee
• National newspaper advertisements
Aug 2010
Biosafety SubCommittee
Medical
Research
Ethics
Cmtee
• Public comment period Aug –Sept
2010
• NBB – Oct 2010
• Cabinet Approval –Oct 2010
State Approval (s)
Transgenic subcommittee
• State Approvals ongoing
Independent RA and
RC workshops
Oxitec Limited
Risk Assessment
UNDP sponsored
Risk Assessment
Workshop

>70 Malaysian Scientists

Published outcome
Follow up risk
communication workshop

Oxitec Limited
Community Engagement in Malaysia – Reactions to Dengue
Sad
“Sad to see loved ones suffer, in pain and yet don’t know
how to help…”
“Scared of losing loved ones…”
Scary
Helpless
Confused
“Doctor said my son only had 50% chance of survival…”
“Don’t know what to do… high fever not subsided after days or despite
completed full course of medications, after seeing so many doctors”
“Don’t understand what is happening…confused…”
“Can’t bear to see loved ones in pain…”
Painful
Not able to care for kids/
family
Not able to work
“Have to stand the pain…”
“Can’t eat or sleep at night…”
“Feel sorry for my kids, for not having mom around them…”
Community Engagement
in Malaysia Oxitec Focus Group: reactions to GM Mosquitoes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
breakthrough!
good news
kills larvae
good – something worth trying
going forward
provides immediate solution / result
in preventing Dengue
seen as a long term solution
compared to other methods which
are all seen as short term
Some welcomed the research team
to test the technique in their
community
Community engagement
Press – Neutral to positive coverage
Oct 10, 2010
M'sia's GM mosquito trial
Malaysia to carry out
landmark GM mosquito
trial (Oct 10, 2010)
Field testing approved for GM
mosquitoes ( 11 Oct 2010)
War on dengue: No decision on
genetically modified mosquitoes
Don't reject GM Aedes
mosquitos just yet
(10 Sept 2010)
( 24 Aug 2010)
Monstrous mosquitoes? (6 Sept 2010)
New hope to eradicate
dengue fever worldwide
(10 Aug 2010)
Oxitec Ltd