Brazil Tries to Curb Dengue Fever with ‘Good Mosquito’ Release

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America 

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian researchers have released thousands of mosquitoes infected with a bacteria that suppress dengue fever.

Genetically modified mosquitoes. Photo courtesy of International Business Times

The researchers believe that the mosquitoes will multiply, breed and become the majority of mosquitoes.  They hope this will reduce cases of the disease.  The initiative is actually a part of a larger program also taking place in Australia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Dengue fever, is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness.  The more severe forms include dengue shock syndrome and dengue hemorrhagic fever.  Dengue fever must be treated before it turns into dengue shock syndrome or dengue hemorrhagic fever.  Dengue fever is commonly found in urban areas of subtropical and tropical climates, such as Central and South America, various parts of Africa and Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The intracellular bacteria the mosquitoes were infected with, Wolbachia, cannot be transmitted to humans.

The program started in 2012.  “Transparency and proper information for the household is a priority.” said Luciano Moreira of the Brazilian research institute Fiocruz, who is leading the project in Brazil.  “Our teams performed weekly visits to the four neighborhoods in Rio being targeted.  Mosquitoes were analyzed after collection in special traps.”

Ten thousand mosquitoes will be released each month for four months, the first release was in Tubiacanga, in the north of Rio.

The bacterium Wolbachia is found in 60% of insects.  Wolbachia acts as a vaccine for the mosquito which carries dengue, Aedes aegypti, stopping the dengue virus multiplying in its body.

Aedes mosquitoes with Wolbachia become predominant without researchers having to constantly release more contaminated insects.

The program has already proved successful in Australia.  Within 10 weeks on average Wolbachia mosquitoes became predominant.

Three more neighborhoods will be targeted next.  There will be large scale studies to evaluate the effect of the strategy possibly in 2016.

Dengue fever re-emerged in Brazil in 1981 after an absence of more than 20 years.  In the following 30 years, seven million cases were reported.

Brazil leads the world in the number of dengue cases, with 3.2 million cases and 800 deaths reported in the 2009-14 period.  The disease continues to have implications for Brazil’s public health system and economy.  There was large concern about dengue fever in Brazil during the World Cup.

For more information, please see:

BBC News — Brazil Releases ‘Good’ Mosquitoes to Fight Dengue Fever — 24 Sept. 2014

The Malay Mail Online — Researchers Release ‘Good’ Mosquitoes to Suppress Dengue Fever in Brazil — 26 Sept. 2014

International Business Times — Brazil Releases Thousands of ‘Good’ Mosquitos to Combat Dengue Fever — 25 Sept. 2014

The New Age Online — Brazil Releases Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Fight Dengue Fever — 25 Sept. 2014

Australia Expands Laws to Face Terrorist Threat

By Max Bartels

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania 

 

Canberra, Australia 

The Australian Senate has passed a new bill in response to the recent foreign and domestic terrorist threats facing Australia. The new legislation will make it easier for intelligence and law enforcement agencies to access the personal information on computers and cell phones of Australian citizens overseas. The bill would also create an increased penalty of up to 10 years in prison for disclosing secret information, this is especially concerning for journalists, who are concerned that they will be targeted with these new penalties. Lastly the new legislation gives civil and criminal immunity to Australian intelligence agents. The government was quick to comment that the immunity would not be extended to those agents that caused death, serious injury, engaged in sexual offenses or severe damage to property.

IS TERROR SUSPECT RAIDS
Australian police outside a house in Sydney during raids last Thursday (Photo Curtesy of SBS)

The Parliament has pushed for these new laws in response to major counter terrorist operations in recent weeks, where Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies foiled an ISIS plot to stage a public beheading in Sydney. There have also been smaller incidents, including a number of arrests involving ISIS recruiters operating in Australia. The Australian response was to lift restrictions on the intelligence community however; the political opposition parties are voicing their disapproval. Both the Liberal Democratic Party as well as the Green Party has stated that these new laws will effectively restrict freedom of the press. The major concern is that if the press is not able to report on intelligence activities then democracy in Australia will be undermined.

Another major concern of the opposition groups was that torture could be included in the new laws. Prime Minister Tony Abbott gave a speech in response to this rumor that torture would not be included in the new legislation and that it will remain outlawed in Australia. The legal immunity was also explicitly stated to not cover incidents of torture. It has only  been in the last few weeks that Australia responded to a call from the U.S. to aide international efforts in combating ISIS. In response to that call Australia deployed troops abroad, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott stating that Australia was not out of the reach of the ISIS threat. Shortly after the deployment announcement, ISIS became very active in Australia, evident from a foiled terrorist plot as well as a slew of arrests. Now Australia has adapted their laws to face the new threat but many worry that it will lead to injustice.

For more information, please see:

ABC News — Senate Passes New Counter-Terrorism Giving Stronger Powers to Intelligence Agency ASIO — 25 September 2014

The Guardian — Torture Ruled Out of Counter- Terrorism Laws For Australian Security Agencies — 21 September 2014

The Guardian — Australia’s Counter- Terror Laws Will Restrict our Free Speech and Free Press — 21 September 2014

SBS — What Will the Counter- Terror Laws Mean for Australians? — 24 September 2014

UN General Assembly Focuses on Traditional Topics As Well As Ebola and ISIS

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America – On Tuesday 23 September 2014, more than 140 heads of state and government gathered in New York City for the 69th annual United Nations general assembly. With the current state of world affairs this year’s agenda took on new crises, including the rise of Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria, the Ebola outbreak, and the ongoing civil strife between Ukraine and Russia. However, traditional topics such as nuclear weapons and climate change were also discussed.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon spoke in New York at the Climate Change Summit on 23 Sept 2014 (photo courtesy of Time).

On Wednesday, the United Nation Security Council convened at a special session chaired by United States President, Barack Obama, in order to reach an international agreement regarding disarming ISIS. The agreement seeks to sever the flow of funds and weapons to extremist groups. Thus, straining the rapid development of extremist groups such as ISIS.

In addition to addressing the concerns regarding security issues in the Middle East, United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, focused on the U.N. Climate Summit. Kerry states that it is “absolutely imperative” for the world to curb the impact of climate change immediately.

Additionally, the Ebola outbreak in Africa was a highly discussed matter at the summit. Last week, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution addressing the rapid spreading of Ebola, calling it an “international peace and security threat.” The resolution called for field hospitals to be set up in outbreak areas, along with all U.N. member nations to provide assistance in the form of qualified staff and supplies.

Since the first case of Ebola was discovered, it has claimed the lives of more than 2,7000 individuals. The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, stated at a recent press conference, “Ebola is an exponential crisis that demands an exceptional global response.” President Obama also addressed the issue at the summit, and asked world leaders to provide more assistance in the form of funds and medical aid to the affected countries.

 

For more information, please see the following:

NEW YORK TIMES – President Obama to Address U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday – 23 Sept. 2014.

TIME – UN General Assembly Kicks Off in New York City – 23 Sept. 2014.

US NEWS – Obama Tackles ISIS, Ebola, and a Nuclear Iran at U.N. General Assembly – 24 Sept. 2014.

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Transcript: Obama’s Address to the United Nations General Assembly – 24 Sept. 2014.

Regime Forces Overrun Town near Damascus

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – As U.S. and Coalition forces target the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and the Khorasan group in Syria the Assad regime continues the tighten its grip on communities near the capital, targeting rebel held communities. Syrian forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad overran rebels in Adra al-Omalia, a town 30 km northeast of the Syrian capital. Syrian State Media, SANA reported that the armed forces had “imposed their control over the town of Adra al-Omalia and eliminated a number of terrorists.” SANA reported that Syrian soldiers were combing the area and clearing out explosives planted by armed groups. The raids were an important advancement for the Assad Regime which is attempting to strengthen its grip over the areas around Central Damascus. Assad’s forces, backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah group, have been gradually extending control over a corridor of strategic territory that reaches from Damascus to the Mediterranean coast.

Syrian state TV, SANA, claimed on Thursday that the armed forces had “imposed their control” over Adra al-Omalia. SANA broadcast what it said was live footage of Syrian solders in the overrun town. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, confirmed that the government had taken control of Adra al-Omalia after clashes with rebels including some fighters from the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, whose assets have also been targeted by U.S. air strikes. The United States considers the Nusra Front a terrorist organization. The Observatory earlier reported that at least 29 people – 18 of them rebel fighters – died during fighting on Wednesday between rebels and government forces in the outskirts of Damascus. Fighting still regularly kills nearly 200 people a day Syria.

Syrian opposition activists warn that the continued U.S. and Coalition Airstrikes in Syria may ultimately help the Assad regime if regime assets are not targeted in the strikes. The Assad regime is a primary target of ISIS fighting, the regime views the ISIS organization as continued threat and could use the airstrikes as indirect aid to reclaim territory taken by the ISIS group and as an opportunity to open new ground battles against the militants.

The Coalition strategy against ISIS may incentives the Assad regime ramp up fighting against the Free Syrian Army and other moderate fighters out of fears that these groups will receive increased aid from the international community. United States President Barack Obama has lobbied for increased military aid and training to moderate Syrian rebels as a potential proxy force to fight ISIS militants on the ground in Syria. This firepower would likely ultimately be turned against the Assad regime.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Syrian Army Overruns Town Near Damascus – 25 September 2014
The Jerusalem Post – Report: Syrian Army Retakes Area Northeast Of Damascus – 25 September 2014
Reuters – Syrian Army Extends Grip In Town Northeast Of Damascus – 25 September 2014
The Washington Post – U.S.-Led Airstrikes Could Open New Fronts For Syrian Battles Against Islamic State – 25 September 2014