Google Wants to Release 32 Million Sterilized Mosquitoes in California and Florida

• Google-owned Debug has proposed releasing 32 million Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes in California and Florida to suppress populations of Aedes aegypti, the invasive mosquito that spreads dengue fever, yellow fever, and Zika virus
• The released males don't bite humans and are designed to mate with wild females whose eggs then fail to hatch, preventing more than 100 offspring from being produced from a single mating
• Public concern centers on the possibility of unintended environmental consequences, the difficulty of reversing large-scale biological releases and questions about the role of private corporations in ecosystem management
• Researchers reviewing Wolbachia-based mosquito-control programs found that they can reduce disease transmission, but success depends heavily on local conditions and often requires ongoing releases, specialized infrastructure and long-term monitoring
• Regardless of whether the proposal moves forward, you can reduce your exposure to mosquito-borne diseases by eliminating standing water around your home, using physical barriers such as screens and reducing mosquito breeding sites in your community