Originally published on January 15, 2014

Thousands of genetically modified mosquitoes will be released in Panama in an attempt to stop the spread of the dengue virus.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary vector of dengue. For the project, scientists will genetically alter male mosquitos by putting a sterility gene into the mosquitoes' DNA. The genetically modified male mosquitoes are then released to mate with wild female mosquitoes, which will lay eggs that contain sterility gene. The eggs will hatch into larvae that die before developing into pupae.

The authorities hope that releasing enough of the genetically modified male mosquitoes into the wild will eventually cause the overall mosquito population to decline.

Dengue virus has recently spread to Russia, Portugal and the United States.

Dengue fever is a severe, flulike illness. Symptoms include a high fever accompanied by severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, swollen glands and rashes and vomiting.

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