Google Seeks Approval to Release Millions of Mosquitoes in Disease-Fighting Project

Google’s parent company,  Alphabet, is seeking federal approval to release up to 32 million specially treated mosquitoes in parts of California and Florida over the next two years as part of an effort to reduce mosquito-borne diseases. The proposal is being reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  

The project is being led by Alphabet’s life sciences company, Verily, through its long-running “Debug” initiative. Rather than releasing mosquitoes that bite people, the plan calls for the release of male mosquitoes infected with a naturally occurring bacterium known as Wolbachia. Male mosquitoes do not bite humans.  

Scientists say when these Wolbachia-infected males mate with wild female mosquitoes, the resulting eggs fail to hatch. Over time, the mosquito population declines, reducing the potential spread of diseases such as West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis.  

The technology is not new. Similar Wolbachia-based mosquito control programs have been used in locations including Singapore, Australia, Puerto Rico, Texas and California, with researchers reporting significant reductions in targeted mosquito populations and some mosquito-borne illnesses.  

The proposal has sparked debate among some members of the public who question the long-term ecological impacts of releasing large numbers of lab-bred insects into the environment. However, the CDC notes that Wolbachia is a common bacterium found naturally in many insects and that there is no evidence it harms people, pets, wildlife or the environment. The CDC also notes that mosquitoes used in these programs are not genetically modified.  

Federal regulators are currently accepting public comments before deciding whether to grant the experimental permit. Specific release locations have not yet been announced.  

Bottom line: Google is not planning to release biting mosquitoes. The proposal involves releasing millions of male mosquitoes carrying a naturally occurring bacterium in an effort to reduce populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes and lower the risk of illnesses such as West Nile virus.