Risk analysis of a hypothetical open field release of a self-limiting transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquito strain to combat dengue

Abstract

A UNDP-sponsored Workshop on the Risk Assessment of Transgenic Insects (Series-1) was co-hosted in November 2008 by Malaysia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, and the Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture at the University of Malaya. This 3-day workshop was attended by 70 scientists working in the fields of biosafety, entomology and medical entomology, infectious diseases, law, medicine, natural resources and the environment, vector control and virology. This workshop is one of the initiatives under the project Capacity Building for Implementation of Malaysia's Biosafety Act 2007, which has the objective to help consolidate Malaysia's national capacity for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety as well as the National Biosafety Act of 2007. The workshop extensively discussed the risks and benefits of three case studies: hypothetical field release of genetically modified fruit flies (Tephritidae sp.), pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) and mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). This paper discusses the methodology of the workshop and the output of the mosquito case study, where participants were asked to determine potential hazards associated with these hypothetical trials, and then apply the tools of risk assessment and risk management to determine the likelihood and consequence of the identified potential hazards, and thus prepare an overall risk assessment.