Google is awaiting approval to release 32 million mosquitoes into the wild

Google has applied for federal approval for a new project aimed at reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and St. Louis encephalitis.

As part of the application, the company plans to release up to 32 million specially bred male mosquitoes into the wild in California and Florida over the next two years.

The plan is currently being evaluated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency is expected to decide whether to grant experimental use permission after reviewing public comments.

The goal is to reduce the target mosquito population.

The project involves using male mosquitoes infected with a naturally occurring bacterium called Wolbachia.

Researchers say that when these male mosquitoes mate with female mosquitoes in the wild, their offspring do not survive. This method aims to reduce the mosquito population over time.

Experts point out that only female mosquitoes bite humans, and the male mosquitoes used in the project will not bite humans.

The West Nile virus will be targeted.

The project is targeting Culex species mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus remains one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in the United States.

Officials said that the areas where the mosquitoes will be released, if approved, have not yet been finalized.

The method, developed as part of Google’s ‘Debug’ initiative launched approximately 10 years ago, has been tested in various countries by different organizations in the past.