logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
30m 11s

How can genetically engineered mosquitoe...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

The first batch of genetically modified mosquitoes is being released in Djibouti in a bid to stop the spread of malaria carrying vectors that bite during the day and thrive in urban areas. How does this work?

Also, an overview of South Africa's 'historic' elections.   Who are the main parties and what are the issues?

And scientists trace the origins of one of Africa's most iconic trees, the baobab tree, to Madagascar.  Why are they in decline on the Island?

Presenter: Richard Kagoe Producers: Charles Gitonga, Frenny Jowi, Rob Wilson and Paul Bakibinga Technical Producer: Daniela Victoria Varela Hernandez Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

Up next
Aug 22
Exploring Africa-Japan trade ties
Japan has pledged to work more closely with African countries at global summit on economic development. How can Africa benefit from stronger ties with Japan?The former prime minister of Chad is facing a 20-year prison term after being convicted of hate speech, xenophobia and havi ... Show More
32m 3s
Aug 21
Uganda to take deported migrants from USA
Uganda agrees a deal with the United States to take in failed asylum seekers provided they are not minors or people with criminal recordsHow does Zambia plan to tackle a gold rush that turned violent?And why are gulper sharks under threat off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland state ... Show More
28m 37s
Aug 20
Increased concerns over missing Ethiopia journalists
Two prominent journalists in Ethiopia, Abdulsemed Mohammed and Yonas Amare, have been missing for more than a week after being abducted by what reports say, were men wearing masks and military uniforms. There has been no news about their whereabouts but their disappearances have ... Show More
27m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Mpox: What does the new strain mean for you?
A new strain of the mpox virus is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and experts say it is the most dangerous variant they have seen.We chat to Makuochi Okafor, a BBC Africa health reporter, who explains the symptoms of mpox, why scientists changed its name, a ... Show More
12m 23s
Aug 2024
Oh rats! How cities from New York to Mombasa are taking on pests
Animals are essential in maintaining ecosystem balance, but in some cases they can have the opposite effect. In the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, authorities are looking to cull 1 million Indian house crows. Conservationists say they are becoming a nuisance and have significant ... Show More
12m 14s
May 21
These malaria drugs treat the mosquitos — not the people
00:45 Treating mosquitoes for malariaResearchers have developed two compounds that can kill malaria-causing parasites within mosquitoes, an approach they hope could help reduce transmission of the disease. The team showed that these compounds can be embedded into the plastics use ... Show More
31m 40s
Aug 2024
How to end malaria once and for all | Abdoulaye Diabaté
Malaria is a disease as old as humankind, yet we may be closer than ever to eliminating it, says medical entomologist Abdoulaye Diabaté. He explains the potential of "gene drive" technology — which aims to disrupt mosquito reproduction as a means of halting malaria transmission i ... Show More
13m 12s
Jun 2024
Culicidology (MOSQUITOES) Part 1 with Fhallon Ware-Gilmore
They’re gorgeous. They’re picky moms, and tremendous flirts. They are sparkly. And they drink blood. We hopped on the line with mosquito researcher, medical entomologist, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, and Culicidologist, Dr. Fhallon Ware-Gilmore to chat about mozzie ... Show More
59m 6s
Sep 2024
Are South Africa’s power cuts now a thing of the past?
Today Alan Kasujja sits down with Dan Marokane, the recently appointed CEO of South Africa's national power supplier, Eskom. He wants to understand how the new boss has been able to halt power cuts that have been devastating to both the economy and the wellbeing of all South Afri ... Show More
22 m
Jul 2024
Dengue’s biggest year ever
More than 10 million people worldwide have contracted dengue from mosquitos this year. Now experts are worried it might show up at the Olympics.This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn and Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Amina Al-Sadi and Laura B ... Show More
25m 38s
Jul 2024
What will it take for Africa to beat HIV/Aids?
“I have lived with HIV for 25 years out of 50. I just turned 50, and I was diagnosed in 1999 at the age of 25 with HIV.”The HIV/AIDS epidemic has significantly impacted African countries south of the Sahara. By late 2001, over half of the world's HIV cases were in sub-Saharan Afr ... Show More
22m 13s
May 2016
Ron Klain on why we beat Ebola — but are losing on Zika
Only a few people know what it's like to lead the White House's response to a public health crisis. Ron Klain is one of them. He was chosen in 2014 by President Obama to steer the U.S. effort to fight Ebola, just when it looked like the outbreak was about to spiral out of control ... Show More
50m 36s
Aug 7
Should we be eating more ‘forgotten foods’?
At least 30,000 of the 350,000 known plant species on our planet are edible, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, but only 170 species of plant are cultivated for food on a large scale. As climate change affects plant yields and disease threatens so ... Show More
14m 42s