1
00:00:21,187 --> 00:00:24,190
How do you personally feel
about mosquitoes?

2
00:02:10,296 --> 00:02:12,090
You have to go to the hospital,

3
00:02:12,173 --> 00:02:17,637
and if you don't have money,
malaria will kill you.

4
00:02:18,596 --> 00:02:20,181
It can kill the baby.

5
00:02:21,057 --> 00:02:23,852
It has killed many babies.

6
00:02:23,935 --> 00:02:27,480
It killed a baby who was close to me.

7
00:02:29,399 --> 00:02:30,859
My sister's baby.

8
00:02:32,819 --> 00:02:34,279
She started convulsing.

9
00:02:34,362 --> 00:02:36,865
Her fever was high. I did not waste time.

10
00:02:36,948 --> 00:02:39,784
I caught a ride and rushed her here.

11
00:02:40,285 --> 00:02:42,829
She had very strong malaria.

12
00:02:46,124 --> 00:02:48,042
We got one. One oxygen.

13
00:02:48,126 --> 00:02:50,753
Ma'am, can you fill for us, oxygen?

14
00:03:15,695 --> 00:03:16,613
As a kid,

15
00:03:16,696 --> 00:03:20,533
I can't even tell you how many
episodes of malaria I went through.

16
00:03:21,034 --> 00:03:24,412
I can still clearly see, you know,
the picture of my father.

17
00:03:24,913 --> 00:03:26,748
He was standing next to my bed,

18
00:03:27,540 --> 00:03:28,541
looking at me.

19
00:03:28,625 --> 00:03:32,378
I could really see, you know,
a lot of fear in his eyes.

20
00:03:33,796 --> 00:03:39,844
If malaria was killing
600,000 people in the US or in Europe,

21
00:03:40,595 --> 00:03:42,805
the problem would have
completely changed by now.

22
00:10:19,952 --> 00:10:21,454
Do you think we can do it?

23
00:10:52,693 --> 00:10:56,405
First of all, I will say that statistics
are really good storytellers.

24
00:10:56,989 --> 00:11:00,910
Of these 247 million cases worldwide
every year,

25
00:11:01,827 --> 00:11:05,790
Africa's bearing about 235 million cases…

26
00:11:05,873 --> 00:11:07,333
-That's incredible.
-…alone.

27
00:11:07,875 --> 00:11:09,168
The real problem today is that

28
00:11:09,251 --> 00:11:12,004
when you look at the conventional tools
that we have in hand,

29
00:11:12,088 --> 00:11:15,800
you take bed nets and then you take
the new drugs and everything,

30
00:11:15,883 --> 00:11:18,052
they have done a really incredible job.

31
00:11:18,135 --> 00:11:23,015
But right now, it seems like
they have reached the protective limit.

32
00:11:23,599 --> 00:11:25,101
With the current tools, basically,

33
00:11:25,184 --> 00:11:29,814
it looks like you are sitting
in a really very fast driving car,

34
00:11:30,314 --> 00:11:31,399
and your target is the moon.

35
00:11:31,482 --> 00:11:33,526
How are you going to make it?

36
00:11:33,609 --> 00:11:35,695
You absolutely need
a completely different engine.

37
00:11:37,154 --> 00:11:39,657
We need to put
a lot of effort and research

38
00:11:39,740 --> 00:11:42,743
trying to come up with new tools.

39
00:15:15,289 --> 00:15:21,253
We have recruited so far 324 children
for this, uh, second part of the trial.

40
00:16:02,586 --> 00:16:04,338
I'm Bernadina Odhiambo,

41
00:16:05,130 --> 00:16:07,132
and I'm 26 years.

42
00:16:11,971 --> 00:16:13,597
I'm a mother of two.

43
00:16:15,557 --> 00:16:18,060
There is Ian and Margaret.

44
00:16:21,146 --> 00:16:25,150
Here in Siaya,
there is high risk of malaria.

45
00:16:27,861 --> 00:16:32,908
We know that there's some measures that
we can take by ourselves to control it.

46
00:16:33,951 --> 00:16:37,121
I've made it as clean as possible.

47
00:16:38,372 --> 00:16:41,250
There are no stagnant waters around.

48
00:16:44,211 --> 00:16:47,798
We are all sleeping
under treated mosquito nets.

49
00:16:47,881 --> 00:16:50,426
We can use mosquito repellents.

50
00:16:52,928 --> 00:16:57,808
We heard of malaria studies
that are being conducted in Siaya County.

51
00:16:57,891 --> 00:17:02,187
I was much interested
since I'm a victim of malaria.

52
00:17:04,940 --> 00:17:09,653
My older son
got malaria when he was two months old.

53
00:17:12,072 --> 00:17:14,408
So,
when it came to the studies,

54
00:17:14,491 --> 00:17:16,827
I just decided to be part of them.

55
00:17:20,789 --> 00:17:24,084
Once we started the study,
we were called upon.

56
00:17:24,585 --> 00:17:26,754
We went to Kogelo.

57
00:17:28,338 --> 00:17:31,091
They were taking
some blood for tests.

58
00:17:31,175 --> 00:17:34,678
So, after that,
they were given a dose for malaria.

59
00:27:12,631 --> 00:27:14,883
Research is kind of
a long process.

60
00:27:15,425 --> 00:27:18,845
We want something right now,
but if you want to do research,

61
00:27:18,928 --> 00:27:23,058
like, you know, the specific technology
that we are developing, it takes time.

62
00:27:25,935 --> 00:27:28,521
And I'm part of
the project Target Malaria.

63
00:27:28,605 --> 00:27:33,443
We are using advanced genetic tools
to get rid of malaria in the future.

64
00:27:34,694 --> 00:27:37,739
We don't have
the gene drive mosquitoes in Africa yet

65
00:27:37,822 --> 00:27:38,782
for many reasons.

66
00:27:38,865 --> 00:27:41,409
There are so many
other elements around it,

67
00:27:41,493 --> 00:27:44,204
and all these different pieces need,
you know, to fall in place

68
00:27:44,287 --> 00:27:47,040
just to make sure
that you have something really very solid

69
00:27:47,123 --> 00:27:49,042
and very safe for the community.

70
00:27:51,002 --> 00:27:52,671
You know, malaria is rural,

71
00:27:53,213 --> 00:27:55,382
and it's happening
during the rainy season.

72
00:27:56,091 --> 00:27:58,843
Taking mosquitoes, you know,
to spread the gene for you,

73
00:27:58,927 --> 00:28:01,388
and even in a really very difficult area,

74
00:28:02,013 --> 00:28:04,474
if you cannot get access,
the mosquito will do the job for you.

75
00:28:05,475 --> 00:28:08,812
So, we really feel
that this is a very transformative tool,

76
00:28:08,895 --> 00:28:11,940
but, you know, to release mosquitoes
in the field is really very easy.

77
00:28:12,023 --> 00:28:14,025
It's going to take me
just only 30 minutes,

78
00:28:14,109 --> 00:28:16,403
but we took seven years to get there.

79
00:28:16,486 --> 00:28:19,072
If you start right away with
the gene drive, then it's spreading,

80
00:28:19,155 --> 00:28:21,700
then you have all these different aspects
that you did not look at,

81
00:28:21,783 --> 00:28:23,243
then it's going to be very difficult.

82
00:28:23,326 --> 00:28:26,246
You need to work for the community
to get the social license.

83
00:28:26,329 --> 00:28:28,373
And this is not something
which is granted.

84
00:28:28,456 --> 00:28:30,875
You really need to build trust with them.

85
00:28:30,959 --> 00:28:34,421
I cannot just pop up in any single village
with a bucket of mosquitoes

86
00:28:35,046 --> 00:28:38,091
on the assumption that I'm a scientist
working for the good of the public.

87
00:28:38,174 --> 00:28:41,094
People really need to understand
what you're doing.

88
00:28:45,056 --> 00:28:46,683
Ah, good morning.

89
00:28:46,766 --> 00:28:47,892
How are you?

90
00:28:47,976 --> 00:28:49,227
Great. Thank you.

91
00:28:49,310 --> 00:28:50,145
Good morning.

92
00:28:50,228 --> 00:28:51,312
-How are you?
-I'm very fine.

93
00:28:51,396 --> 00:28:52,313
Great. Thank you.

94
00:28:52,397 --> 00:28:54,941
We're very delighted
to welcome you this morning.

95
00:28:55,024 --> 00:28:57,986
As you can see, this is our insectary.

96
00:28:58,069 --> 00:28:59,320
All the mosquitos are here.

97
00:29:01,781 --> 00:29:05,201
We know there are
a number of concerns that are out there,

98
00:29:06,035 --> 00:29:07,829
so sometimes it's really very good

99
00:29:07,912 --> 00:29:09,998
if you can take the leaders
of the community

100
00:29:10,081 --> 00:29:12,876
into the insectary
and then you show them the mosquitoes,

101
00:29:12,959 --> 00:29:14,753
how you do the transformation,

102
00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:18,673
and allow them, you know,
to ask all kinds of questions.

103
00:29:18,757 --> 00:29:23,052
As you can see,
the whole building is painted in white.

104
00:29:23,136 --> 00:29:27,557
This makes it easier to see
when something sits on the wall.

105
00:29:28,224 --> 00:29:35,231
With the fans,
if you stand here, you'll feel the wind.

106
00:29:35,315 --> 00:29:39,444
Everything is done in such a way
to keep the mosquitos inside.

107
00:29:39,527 --> 00:29:45,825
All the mosquitos on this line
have been genetically modified.

108
00:29:45,909 --> 00:29:48,578
Here's the paraffin,
which is like human skin.

109
00:29:48,661 --> 00:29:51,539
You also have the source of the heat
that you put on it.

110
00:29:51,623 --> 00:29:56,002
It makes the paraffin warm,
and the mosquitos can feel it right away.

111
00:29:56,503 --> 00:29:59,923
When they feel it,
they come and start sucking.

112
00:30:00,965 --> 00:30:03,176
I learned a lot today
in the insectary.

113
00:30:03,259 --> 00:30:07,514
I was amazed
at how a mosquito could be modified.

114
00:30:08,139 --> 00:30:10,809
The mosquito is so small,

115
00:30:10,892 --> 00:30:13,394
and to say that it can be modified,

116
00:30:13,478 --> 00:30:15,021
well, it's astonishing.

117
00:30:15,104 --> 00:30:18,107
That's what we call DNA.

118
00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,570
When the modification is integrated
into the mosquito's genome,

119
00:30:22,654 --> 00:30:25,073
you will see that it has red eyes.

120
00:30:25,740 --> 00:30:30,119
So, mosquitos that aren't modified
don't have red eyes?

121
00:30:30,203 --> 00:30:32,413
No, they don't have red eyes.

122
00:31:44,986 --> 00:31:47,030
Very often
people will come to you and say

123
00:31:47,113 --> 00:31:50,491
that if you remove the mosquitoes,
then what is going to happen?

124
00:31:51,367 --> 00:31:55,121
But my question is
that we have 600,000 deaths every year.

125
00:31:55,204 --> 00:31:57,040
Something bad is already happening.

126
00:31:57,874 --> 00:32:00,001
So you absolutely need
to do something about it.

127
00:32:32,700 --> 00:32:38,790
The population
really wants the success of this project

128
00:32:38,873 --> 00:32:44,170
because we have seen
grave cases of malaria,

129
00:32:44,253 --> 00:32:48,341
and the people are desperate

130
00:32:48,424 --> 00:32:51,803
for an adequate solution.

131
00:34:46,417 --> 00:34:48,544
-Good evening.
-Good evening.

132
00:34:48,628 --> 00:34:50,129
-How is family?
-Good.

133
00:34:50,213 --> 00:34:51,964
-Are you all doing well?
-Yes.

134
00:34:52,048 --> 00:34:54,550
Since this morning,
do you know what happened?

135
00:34:54,634 --> 00:34:55,635
What?

136
00:34:55,718 --> 00:35:00,681
I visited the laboratory to see
how the malaria work has been going.

137
00:35:01,390 --> 00:35:07,855
So, how does someone recognize
a modified mosquito?

138
00:35:07,939 --> 00:35:11,567
When you look at them,
the modified mosquitos have red eyes.

139
00:35:24,455 --> 00:35:25,873
Mama, Ian, how are you?

140
00:35:25,957 --> 00:35:27,250
I am okay.

141
00:35:28,126 --> 00:35:31,045
Ian, say hello to the doctor!

142
00:35:34,423 --> 00:35:37,009
Uh, in the last, uh, one month,

143
00:35:37,760 --> 00:35:41,514
from the time you came to the clinic,
there's no problem with the child?

144
00:35:41,597 --> 00:35:43,266
-He is good.
-Okay.

145
00:35:43,349 --> 00:35:47,603
So, anything that you'd want to report
about the child generally?

146
00:35:47,687 --> 00:35:49,313
This is now six months.

147
00:35:50,106 --> 00:35:53,985
Eh, home visits, clinic,
home visit and clinic.

148
00:35:56,654 --> 00:36:00,658
I'm so privileged
to be a part of this study

149
00:36:01,742 --> 00:36:04,120
because the boy, he has been good.

150
00:36:04,203 --> 00:36:07,540
He has not tested
for malaria for six months.

151
00:36:08,708 --> 00:36:10,334
Before, I was afraid

152
00:36:10,418 --> 00:36:13,629
because I was one of the victims
of malaria.

153
00:36:14,589 --> 00:36:17,967
And although it has not been proven
that it will work,

154
00:36:18,050 --> 00:36:21,220
but we are hoping, in a few years coming.

155
00:36:21,304 --> 00:36:24,557
And I am praying,
and it's my humble prayer

156
00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:25,975
that this antibody…

157
00:36:27,351 --> 00:36:28,728
…will be going to work.

158
00:36:29,979 --> 00:36:31,439
So I'm not afraid.

159
00:36:35,401 --> 00:36:41,032
Are the redesigned mosquitos
going to stay with them

160
00:36:41,115 --> 00:36:43,701
inside the laboratory?

161
00:36:43,784 --> 00:36:46,787
You don't need to be afraid
of the modified mosquitos.

162
00:36:47,371 --> 00:36:52,752
The aim of this work is
to eradicate female mosquitos

163
00:36:52,835 --> 00:36:55,379
in order to combat malaria.

164
00:36:55,463 --> 00:36:59,759
It scares us because we often hear that
white people have done this, done that,

165
00:36:59,842 --> 00:37:01,219
and added things to our illnesses.

166
00:37:02,011 --> 00:37:04,805
If you go to the lab,

167
00:37:04,889 --> 00:37:08,684
the truth is that it's breathtaking,

168
00:37:08,768 --> 00:37:12,855
and the people there work hard,
and the work is going really well.

169
00:37:45,721 --> 00:37:50,101
As long as malaria will be killing people
here in Africa a lot

170
00:37:50,977 --> 00:37:53,229
and completely destroying our economy,

171
00:37:54,272 --> 00:37:56,274
we will struggle, you know, to develop.

172
00:37:56,357 --> 00:37:57,984
This is where my roots are.

173
00:37:58,067 --> 00:38:00,069
I was born here, raised here.

174
00:38:00,152 --> 00:38:01,529
All my family is here.

175
00:38:01,612 --> 00:38:03,781
Nobody's going to build my country for me.

176
00:38:05,783 --> 00:38:06,867
I have to do it.

177
00:38:07,910 --> 00:38:09,036
We have to do it.