Summary box

• Genome editing is a new, cheap and versatile technique which has great promise to combat vector-borne diseases. The current ethical debate worldwide is mainly concentrating on the dangers of germline intervention and less so on the potential for fighting vector-borne diseases.

• Gene drive technology has been significantly boosted by the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool which may be able to combat malaria by targeting specific stretches of vector DNA and editing genomes at precise locations, working like a molecular scissors. However, CRISPR/Cas9 is currently not a ‘silver bullet’ and needs further research and consideration of the ethical aspects and consequences of its use.

• In September 2016, the UNESCO Chair of Bioethics at the Medical University of Vienna convened a meeting entitled ‘Fighting Malaria with CRISPR/Cas9: Ethical Implications’, which gathered together infectious disease experts with a focus on malaria, entomologists and ethicists to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of genome editing applied to mosquitoes to fight malaria.

• Although there was no formal consensus, some general conclusions were reached, in particular that any ethical debate needs to involve African stakeholders living in malaria areas and  to consider future generations and the environment. The precautionary principle should be taken into account in any discussion, as should be the human cost of doing nothing.