Was Zika outbreak caused by release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Brazil?

[jayesh30202]

The genetically engineered insects were designed to stop the spread of dengue fever but critics now fear the programme may have had a deadly consequence.

 

 

The Zika virus outbreak currently gripping the Americas could have been sparked by the release of genetically modified mosquitoes in 2012, critics say.

 

The insects were engineered by biotechnology experts to combat the spread of dengue fever and other diseases and released into the general population of Brazil in 2012.

 

But with the World Health Organisation(WHO) now meeting in Geneva to desperately discuss cures for the Zika virus, speculation has mounted as to the cause of this sudden outbreak.

 

The Zika virus was first discovered in the 1950s but the recent outbreak has escalated alarmingly, causing birth defects and a range of health problems in South and central America.

 

The first cases were reported in Brazil last May with up to 1.5 million people now thought to be affected by the virus which is spread by mosquitoes endemic to Latin America.

 

The Aedes aegypti mosquito sub-species that carries both the Zika virus and dengue was the type targeted with genetically modified mosquitoes.

 

The aim was to release only male Aedes mosquitoes into the wild and they would in turn produce offspring with their virus carrying female counterparts.

 

 

This offspring would then die off before breeding again due to the GM coding in their genes.

 

But experts expressed concerns about the programme at the time of its inception, arguing that further studies were needed on the potential consequences.

 

On Saturday, senior health experts shockingly announced that the outbreak could pose a bigger threat to global health than the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in Africa.

 

"In many ways the Zika outbreak is worse than the Ebola epidemic of 2014-15," Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome trust told The Guardian.

 

"Most virus carriers are symptomless.

 

"It is a silent infection in a group of highly vulnerable individuals – pregnant women – that is associated with a horrible outcome for their babies.”

 

The UK is unlikely to be affected by the outbreak because the virus carrying mosquitoes could not survive the climate.

 

But women returning from affected areas are warned to postpone trying for a babyfor at least a month in case they have been infected.

 

Source

[vibranium]

Brazil's top health official said on Monday that the Zika virus outbreak is proving to be worse than believed because most cases show no symptoms, but improved testing should allow the country to get a better grip on the burgeoning public health crisis.

Health Minister Marcelo Castro told Reuters that Brazil will start mandatory reporting of cases by local governments next week when most states will have labs equipped to test for Zika, the mosquito-borne virus that has quickly spread through Latin America. The virus has no vaccine or cure at present.

On Monday, the World Health Organization declared the Zika outbreak to be a global emergency, a decision that should help fast-track international action and research priorities.

In Brazil, believed to be the country hit hardest by Zika, the outbreak has sparked fear especially among pregnant women after local experts linked the virus to thousands of cases of microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains, in newborns.

"Eighty percent of the people infected by Zika do not develop significant symptoms. A large number of people have the virus with no symptoms, so the situation is more serious that we can imagine," Castro said in an interview.

"Our big hope is finding a vaccine," he added.

 

 

ARTICLE SOURCE

[cyberber]

Will see if this affects the olympics

[pc71520]

1 hour ago, cyberber said:

Will see if this affects the olympics

I keep wondering about the same thing.

[Sliuown]

U gotta be pretty afraid to get pregnant in Brazil

[flitox]

i'd be curious to know what Monsanto had to say about this

[Reefa]

Contents Merged..

[Mantis]

Scary stuff, those poor children. very sad.

[Reefa]

10 hours ago, cyberber said:

Will see if this affects the olympics

 

 Fair enough..However i would be slightly more concerned about the Women and baby's..

[pc71520]

Zika virus: first case contracted in US was sexually transmitted, say officials

 

source

[jayesh30202]

1 minute ago, pc71520 said:

Zika virus: first case contracted in US was sexually transmitted, say officials

 

source

[Pjotr 1st]

Zika Hoax: Five Things That Will Happen Next

By Jon Rappoport
 

Microcephaly = babies born with small heads and brain impairment.

In previous articles, I established that the Zika virus uproar is a hoax. There was no reason to assume the number of Brazilian cases of microcephaly was extraordinary. There is no reason to assume the Zika virus has anything to do with microcephaly.

My previous quote:

"Now we have a January 27 Associated Press story out of Rio, published in SFGate: ‘270 of 4,180 suspected microcephaly cases confirmed.’ That’s called a clue, in case you’re wondering. Of the previously touted 4,180 cases of microcephaly in Brazil, the actual number of confirmed cases so far is, well, only 270. Bang. But wait, there’s more. AP: ‘Brazilian officials said the babies with the defect [microcephaly] and their mothers are being tested to see if they had been infected. Six of the 270 confirmed microcephaly cases were found to have the [Zika] virus.’ Bang, bang, bang. Out of all the microcephaly cases re-examined in Brazil, only six have the Zika virus. That constitutes zero proof that Zika has anything to do with microcephaly."

But of course, The Machine is rolling and it will move forward. Also, a number of independent investigators are behind the curve. They are still assuming there is proof of a Zika-microcephaly “epidemic.” If there is proof, it is nowhere to be found yet.

Here are five things that will happen next.

One: Health agencies and reporters will mention cases of microcephaly in other countries, and they will automatically connect them to the Zika virus, or they will suggest there could be a connection. This baseless claim is part of the operation to build up the story and spread fear. Microcephaly can be caused by any insult to the brain during fetal development.

Two: There will be more stories about the rush to develop a vaccine against Zika, the virus that hasn’t been proved to cause anything serious.

Three: Some independent researchers will continue to insist that Zika is actually a weaponized biowar virus. They will ignore the fact that, as yet, Zika hasn’t been shown to cause microcephaly. Or they will point to genetically engineered mosquitoes and the Tdap vaccine as the cause of the Zika epidemic—when there is no proof the epidemic exists. Yes, the vaccine and the mosquitoes are quite dangerous to health, but there is no reason to tout a Zika/microcephaly epidemic when proof isn’t there.

Four: The truth here is: absence of evidence. On the one hand, the CDC and the World Health Organization will grudgingly admit it would be useful to assemble more hard evidence connecting Zika to microcephaly. On the other hand, they will press forward with emergency warnings to pregnant mothers; travel advisories; and they will emphasize the need to come up with a vaccine. Then, they’ll forget all about the need for more evidence.

Five: Investigators and researchers will ignore the fact that there is a very real health crisis in Brazil, and it has existed for a long time. The rampant use of toxic pesticides, grinding poverty, contaminated water, lack of basic sanitation, overcrowding, the takeover of farm land by major corporations, prior toxic vaccine campaigns—these are all factors that cause massive illness, suffering, and death in Brazil.

Again, I emphasize: The release of genetically engineered mosquitoes in Brazil, based on no health studies, is a crime, to say the least. But there is no need to claim these insects are causing an epidemic of microcephaly—since there is no evidence of an epidemic. There is every reason to oppose this GE mosquito campaign.

For the past 30 years, I’ve been analyzing and taking apart phony epidemics. There are two things you must do, among others. Demand proof that the touted cause is really the cause. And discover whether the number of ill people is being accurately reported.

So far, re microcephaly, there is no proof the touted cause is the cause. And the recent revision of evidence indicates there are far, far fewer cases of microcephaly in Brazil than initially trumpeted.

Here is a sixth thing that may happen now. Those Brazilian researchers who went back in and looked at their own evidence for a second time and found no proof of a microcephaly epidemic and no causal connection to the Zika virus? The World Health Organization and the CDC could move in and apply some heavy pressure and arming-twisting:

“Look, boys, you messed up big-time. We’ve got a raging epidemic here because we say so. And Zika is the cause because we say so. Now, you look again and come up with the answer we want. We’re the pros. We run the show. You’re nothing. If you want future careers, you’ll do the smart thing. Get it?”

And then at another level, the US State Department will exert pressure based on aid programs to Brazil. You want the money to keep flowing? —You want to reap the rewards you’re getting from Monsanto’s presence in Brazil? You want our continuing help with security for the Olympics? Get on the right side of this story. Get out in front of trouble. Play ball.

And then, if the Brazilians fold up and submit and obey, you’ll hear something like this from their now-apologetic researchers:

“Well, when we looked at those 3000-plus other possible cases of microcephaly for a second time, guess what? Wow. We found most of them are, in fact, microcephaly. And the Zika virus was present in all those cases. This is really is an epidemic, and it is caused by Zika. This is a global pandemic. We fully support the World Health Organization. We must have a Zika vaccine as soon as possible. Don’t get pregnant. Do what you’re told.”

Go along, or tell the truth. Go along, or tell the truth.

 

The author Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29^th District of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his free NoMoreFakeNews emails here or his free OutsideTheRealityMachine emails here.

[Pjotr 1st]

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