FKMCD – Oxitec Project Update: Caged Mosquito Boxes Temporarily Installed For Evaluation Purposes Only—No Mosquitoes Released

PROJECT UPDATE

DATE: 18 February 2022

FKMCD – Oxitec Project Update: Caged Mosquito Boxes Temporarily Installed

For Evaluation Purposes Only—No Mosquitoes Released

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) and Oxitec announce the installation of several caged emergence boxes as part of the ongoing project to evaluate the effectiveness of Oxitec mosquitoes as a means of mosquito control.

For this phase of the project, technicians will place a limited number of caged emergence boxes no earlier than February 21st on private property owned by volunteer residents on Vaca Key. Technicians will closely monitor the caged boxes. The non-biting, Oxitec MALE mosquitoes will remain within these caged enclosures and not be released. This information will be used for future projects pending regulatory approval.

The process is expected to last several weeks.

The landmark FKMCD – Oxitec Mosquito Project is evaluating the use of Oxitec mosquitoes in controlling the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Monitoring from the 2021 project continues.

To stay up to date or learn more about the project, please visit keysmosquitoproject.com.

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FKMCD – Oxitec Mosquito Project Information:

florida@oxitec.com; questions@keysmosquito.org

+1-888-308-1859

keysmosquitoproject.com

Press Inquiries:

Florida Keys Mosquito Control District

Chad Huff, Public Education & Information Officer

O: 305-292-7190

C: 305-481-2207

E: chuff@keysmosquito.org