This is one of those unbelievable stories that show the problem with fake news extends well beyond our borders.
The summary is that the government of Burkina Faso was funding research into how to reduce the spread of malaria.
Since mosquitos are the way the disease ia spread, the research team focused on eradicating the mosquito population. They did some genetic manipulation and made it so that the offspring would all be male, and therefore they couldn't reproduce.
And then came the fake news. Ten research team was accused of creating a synthetic virus that they were using the mosquitos to spread in order to (something something).
The government stopped the research. Hassled the scientists. And accused them of various nefarious deeds. The mosquitos they created were killed off.
And we're right back to where we were. With no means to stop the spread of malaria.
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