GMO Mosquito Gets Finding of 'No Significant Impact' from FDA

The world’s first self-limiting tropical mosquito, seen as a possible control to the spread of viral diseases such Zika, dengue and yellow fever, is on its way to approval.

The engineered Aedes Aegypti male mosquitoes breed with females and produce offspring that do not live to adulthood. The OX513A mosquito, created by UK-based Oxitec, Ltd., is seen as a population control tool to curb the spread of the disease-carrying bug.

The FDA released its preliminary finding of no significant impact on Friday, in the first environmental assessment. The public comment period will last 30 days.

The company said it was “pleased” with the finding.