1 00:00:21,230 --> 00:00:24,233 How do you personally feel about mosquitoes? 2 00:02:08,296 --> 00:02:10,256 Malaria is such a problem here. 3 00:02:10,339 --> 00:02:12,133 You have to go to the hospital, 4 00:02:12,216 --> 00:02:17,680 and if you don't have money, malaria will kill you. 5 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:20,224 It can kill the baby. 6 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:23,895 It has killed many babies. 7 00:02:23,978 --> 00:02:27,523 It killed a baby who was close to me. 8 00:02:29,442 --> 00:02:30,902 My sister's baby. 9 00:02:32,862 --> 00:02:34,322 She started convulsing. 10 00:02:34,405 --> 00:02:36,908 Her fever was high. I did not waste time. 11 00:02:36,991 --> 00:02:39,827 I caught a ride and rushed her here. 12 00:02:40,328 --> 00:02:42,872 She had very strong malaria. 13 00:02:46,167 --> 00:02:48,085 We got one. One oxygen. 14 00:02:48,169 --> 00:02:50,796 Ma'am, can you fill for us, oxygen? 15 00:03:15,738 --> 00:03:16,656 As a kid, 16 00:03:16,739 --> 00:03:20,576 I can't even tell you how many episodes of malaria I went through. 17 00:03:21,077 --> 00:03:24,455 I can still clearly see, you know, the picture of my father. 18 00:03:24,956 --> 00:03:26,791 He was standing next to my bed, 19 00:03:27,583 --> 00:03:28,584 looking at me. 20 00:03:28,668 --> 00:03:32,421 I could really see, you know, a lot of fear in his eyes. 21 00:03:33,839 --> 00:03:39,887 If malaria was killing 600,000 people in the US or in Europe, 22 00:03:40,638 --> 00:03:42,848 the problem would have completely changed by now. 23 00:10:19,995 --> 00:10:21,497 Do you think we can do it? 24 00:10:52,736 --> 00:10:56,448 First of all, I will say that statistics are really good storytellers. 25 00:10:57,032 --> 00:11:00,953 Of these 247 million cases worldwide every year, 26 00:11:01,870 --> 00:11:05,833 Africa's bearing about 235 million cases… 27 00:11:05,916 --> 00:11:07,376 -That's incredible. -…alone. 28 00:11:07,918 --> 00:11:09,211 The real problem today is that 29 00:11:09,294 --> 00:11:12,047 when you look at the conventional tools that we have in hand, 30 00:11:12,131 --> 00:11:15,843 you take bed nets and then you take the new drugs and everything, 31 00:11:15,926 --> 00:11:18,095 they have done a really incredible job. 32 00:11:18,178 --> 00:11:23,058 But right now, it seems like they have reached the protective limit. 33 00:11:23,642 --> 00:11:25,144 With the current tools, basically, 34 00:11:25,227 --> 00:11:29,857 it looks like you are sitting in a really very fast driving car, 35 00:11:30,357 --> 00:11:31,442 and your target is the moon. 36 00:11:31,525 --> 00:11:33,569 How are you going to make it? 37 00:11:33,652 --> 00:11:35,738 You absolutely need a completely different engine. 38 00:11:37,197 --> 00:11:39,700 We need to put a lot of effort and research 39 00:11:39,783 --> 00:11:42,786 trying to come up with new tools. 40 00:15:15,332 --> 00:15:21,296 We have recruited so far 324 children for this, uh, second part of the trial. 41 00:16:02,629 --> 00:16:04,381 I'm Bernadina Odhiambo, 42 00:16:05,173 --> 00:16:07,175 and I'm 26 years. 43 00:16:12,014 --> 00:16:13,640 I'm a mother of two. 44 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,103 There is Ian and Margaret. 45 00:16:21,189 --> 00:16:25,193 Here in Siaya, there is high risk of malaria. 46 00:16:27,904 --> 00:16:32,951 We know that there's some measures that we can take by ourselves to control it. 47 00:16:33,994 --> 00:16:37,164 I've made it as clean as possible. 48 00:16:38,415 --> 00:16:41,293 There are no stagnant waters around. 49 00:16:44,254 --> 00:16:47,841 We are all sleeping under treated mosquito nets. 50 00:16:47,924 --> 00:16:50,469 We can use mosquito repellents. 51 00:16:52,971 --> 00:16:57,851 We heard of malaria studies that are being conducted in Siaya County. 52 00:16:57,934 --> 00:17:02,230 I was much interested since I'm a victim of malaria. 53 00:17:04,983 --> 00:17:09,696 My older son got malaria when he was two months old. 54 00:17:12,115 --> 00:17:14,451 So, when it came to the studies, 55 00:17:14,534 --> 00:17:16,870 I just decided to be part of them. 56 00:17:20,832 --> 00:17:24,127 Once we started the study, we were called upon. 57 00:17:24,628 --> 00:17:26,797 We went to Kogelo. 58 00:17:28,381 --> 00:17:31,134 They were taking some blood for tests. 59 00:17:31,218 --> 00:17:34,721 So, after that, they were given a dose for malaria. 60 00:27:12,674 --> 00:27:14,926 Research is kind of a long process. 61 00:27:15,468 --> 00:27:18,888 We want something right now, but if you want to do research, 62 00:27:18,971 --> 00:27:23,101 like, you know, the specific technology that we are developing, it takes time. 63 00:27:25,978 --> 00:27:28,564 And I'm part of the project Target Malaria. 64 00:27:28,648 --> 00:27:33,486 We are using advanced genetic tools to get rid of malaria in the future. 65 00:27:34,737 --> 00:27:37,782 We don't have the gene drive mosquitoes in Africa yet 66 00:27:37,865 --> 00:27:38,825 for many reasons. 67 00:27:38,908 --> 00:27:41,452 There are so many other elements around it, 68 00:27:41,536 --> 00:27:44,247 and all these different pieces need, you know, to fall in place 69 00:27:44,330 --> 00:27:47,083 just to make sure that you have something really very solid 70 00:27:47,166 --> 00:27:49,085 and very safe for the community. 71 00:27:51,045 --> 00:27:52,714 You know, malaria is rural, 72 00:27:53,256 --> 00:27:55,425 and it's happening during the rainy season. 73 00:27:56,134 --> 00:27:58,886 Taking mosquitoes, you know, to spread the gene for you, 74 00:27:58,970 --> 00:28:01,431 and even in a really very difficult area, 75 00:28:02,056 --> 00:28:04,517 if you cannot get access, the mosquito will do the job for you. 76 00:28:05,518 --> 00:28:08,855 So, we really feel that this is a very transformative tool, 77 00:28:08,938 --> 00:28:11,983 but, you know, to release mosquitoes in the field is really very easy. 78 00:28:12,066 --> 00:28:14,068 It's going to take me just only 30 minutes, 79 00:28:14,152 --> 00:28:16,446 but we took seven years to get there. 80 00:28:16,529 --> 00:28:19,115 If you start right away with the gene drive, then it's spreading, 81 00:28:19,198 --> 00:28:21,743 then you have all these different aspects that you did not look at, 82 00:28:21,826 --> 00:28:23,286 then it's going to be very difficult. 83 00:28:23,369 --> 00:28:26,289 You need to work for the community to get the social license. 84 00:28:26,372 --> 00:28:28,416 And this is not something which is granted. 85 00:28:28,499 --> 00:28:30,918 You really need to build trust with them. 86 00:28:31,002 --> 00:28:34,464 I cannot just pop up in any single village with a bucket of mosquitoes 87 00:28:35,089 --> 00:28:38,134 on the assumption that I'm a scientist working for the good of the public. 88 00:28:38,217 --> 00:28:41,137 People really need to understand what you're doing. 89 00:28:45,099 --> 00:28:46,726 Ah, good morning. 90 00:28:46,809 --> 00:28:47,935 How are you? 91 00:28:48,019 --> 00:28:49,270 Great. Thank you. 92 00:28:49,353 --> 00:28:50,188 Good morning. 93 00:28:50,271 --> 00:28:51,355 -How are you? -I'm very fine. 94 00:28:51,439 --> 00:28:52,356 Great. Thank you. 95 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:54,984 We're very delighted to welcome you this morning. 96 00:28:55,067 --> 00:28:58,029 As you can see, this is our insectary. 97 00:28:58,112 --> 00:28:59,363 All the mosquitos are here. 98 00:29:01,824 --> 00:29:05,244 We know there are a number of concerns that are out there, 99 00:29:06,078 --> 00:29:07,872 so sometimes it's really very good 100 00:29:07,955 --> 00:29:10,041 if you can take the leaders of the community 101 00:29:10,124 --> 00:29:12,919 into the insectary and then you show them the mosquitoes, 102 00:29:13,002 --> 00:29:14,796 how you do the transformation, 103 00:29:15,296 --> 00:29:18,716 and allow them, you know, to ask all kinds of questions. 104 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:23,095 As you can see, the whole building is painted in white. 105 00:29:23,179 --> 00:29:27,600 This makes it easier to see when something sits on the wall. 106 00:29:28,267 --> 00:29:35,274 With the fans, if you stand here, you'll feel the wind. 107 00:29:35,358 --> 00:29:39,487 Everything is done in such a way to keep the mosquitos inside. 108 00:29:39,570 --> 00:29:45,868 All the mosquitos on this line have been genetically modified. 109 00:29:45,952 --> 00:29:48,621 Here's the paraffin, which is like human skin. 110 00:29:48,704 --> 00:29:51,582 You also have the source of the heat that you put on it. 111 00:29:51,666 --> 00:29:56,045 It makes the paraffin warm, and the mosquitos can feel it right away. 112 00:29:56,546 --> 00:29:59,966 When they feel it, they come and start sucking. 113 00:30:01,008 --> 00:30:03,219 I learned a lot today in the insectary. 114 00:30:03,302 --> 00:30:07,557 I was amazed at how a mosquito could be modified. 115 00:30:08,182 --> 00:30:10,852 The mosquito is so small, 116 00:30:10,935 --> 00:30:13,437 and to say that it can be modified, 117 00:30:13,521 --> 00:30:15,064 well, it's astonishing. 118 00:30:15,147 --> 00:30:18,150 That's what we call DNA. 119 00:30:19,443 --> 00:30:22,613 When the modification is integrated into the mosquito's genome, 120 00:30:22,697 --> 00:30:25,116 you will see that it has red eyes. 121 00:30:25,783 --> 00:30:30,162 So, mosquitos that aren't modified don't have red eyes? 122 00:30:30,246 --> 00:30:32,456 No, they don't have red eyes. 123 00:31:45,029 --> 00:31:47,073 Very often people will come to you and say 124 00:31:47,156 --> 00:31:50,534 that if you remove the mosquitoes, then what is going to happen? 125 00:31:51,410 --> 00:31:55,164 But my question is that we have 600,000 deaths every year. 126 00:31:55,247 --> 00:31:57,083 Something bad is already happening. 127 00:31:57,917 --> 00:32:00,044 So you absolutely need to do something about it. 128 00:32:32,743 --> 00:32:38,833 The population really wants the success of this project 129 00:32:38,916 --> 00:32:44,213 because we have seen grave cases of malaria, 130 00:32:44,296 --> 00:32:48,384 and the people are desperate 131 00:32:48,467 --> 00:32:51,846 for an adequate solution. 132 00:34:46,460 --> 00:34:48,587 -Good evening. -Good evening. 133 00:34:48,671 --> 00:34:50,172 -How is family? -Good. 134 00:34:50,256 --> 00:34:52,007 -Are you all doing well? -Yes. 135 00:34:52,091 --> 00:34:54,593 Since this morning, do you know what happened? 136 00:34:54,677 --> 00:34:55,678 What? 137 00:34:55,761 --> 00:35:00,724 I visited the laboratory to see how the malaria work has been going. 138 00:35:01,433 --> 00:35:07,898 So, how does someone recognize a modified mosquito? 139 00:35:07,982 --> 00:35:11,610 When you look at them, the modified mosquitos have red eyes. 140 00:35:24,498 --> 00:35:25,916 Mama, Ian, how are you? 141 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:27,293 I am okay. 142 00:35:28,169 --> 00:35:31,088 Ian, say hello to the doctor! 143 00:35:34,466 --> 00:35:37,052 Uh, in the last, uh, one month, 144 00:35:37,803 --> 00:35:41,557 from the time you came to the clinic, there's no problem with the child? 145 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:43,309 -He is good. -Okay. 146 00:35:43,392 --> 00:35:47,646 So, anything that you'd want to report about the child generally? 147 00:35:47,730 --> 00:35:49,356 This is now six months. 148 00:35:50,149 --> 00:35:54,028 Eh, home visits, clinic, home visit and clinic. 149 00:35:56,697 --> 00:36:00,701 I'm so privileged to be a part of this study 150 00:36:01,785 --> 00:36:04,163 because the boy, he has been good. 151 00:36:04,246 --> 00:36:07,583 He has not tested for malaria for six months. 152 00:36:08,751 --> 00:36:10,377 Before, I was afraid 153 00:36:10,461 --> 00:36:13,672 because I was one of the victims of malaria. 154 00:36:14,632 --> 00:36:18,010 And although it has not been proven that it will work, 155 00:36:18,093 --> 00:36:21,263 but we are hoping, in a few years coming. 156 00:36:21,347 --> 00:36:24,600 And I am praying, and it's my humble prayer 157 00:36:24,683 --> 00:36:26,018 that this antibody… 158 00:36:27,394 --> 00:36:28,771 …will be going to work. 159 00:36:30,022 --> 00:36:31,482 So I'm not afraid. 160 00:36:35,444 --> 00:36:41,075 Are the redesigned mosquitos going to stay with them 161 00:36:41,158 --> 00:36:43,744 inside the laboratory? 162 00:36:43,827 --> 00:36:46,830 You don't need to be afraid of the modified mosquitos. 163 00:36:47,414 --> 00:36:52,795 The aim of this work is to eradicate female mosquitos 164 00:36:52,878 --> 00:36:55,422 in order to combat malaria. 165 00:36:55,506 --> 00:36:59,802 It scares us because we often hear that white people have done this, done that, 166 00:36:59,885 --> 00:37:01,262 and added things to our illnesses. 167 00:37:02,054 --> 00:37:04,848 If you go to the lab, 168 00:37:04,932 --> 00:37:08,727 the truth is that it's breathtaking, 169 00:37:08,811 --> 00:37:12,898 and the people there work hard, and the work is going really well. 170 00:37:45,764 --> 00:37:50,144 As long as malaria will be killing people here in Africa a lot 171 00:37:51,020 --> 00:37:53,272 and completely destroying our economy, 172 00:37:54,315 --> 00:37:56,317 we will struggle, you know, to develop. 173 00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,027 This is where my roots are. 174 00:37:58,110 --> 00:38:00,112 I was born here, raised here. 175 00:38:00,195 --> 00:38:01,572 All my family is here. 176 00:38:01,655 --> 00:38:03,824 Nobody's going to build my country for me. 177 00:38:05,826 --> 00:38:06,910 I have to do it. 178 00:38:07,953 --> 00:38:09,079 We have to do it.