Google wants to release millions of lab-modified mosquitoes. The project is being analyzed by the American authorities
Google has asked US authorities for permission to release up to 32 million sterilized mosquitoes in the states of California and Florida as part of a program aimed at reducing populations of dangerous disease-carrying insects. The initiative is part of the “Debug” project, which the tech giant claims is trying to “stop bad bugs with good bugs.”
Google wants to release millions of lab-modified mosquitoes. PHOTO: Archive
Mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous animals for humans, being responsible for millions of illnesses and hundreds of thousands of deaths annually by transmitting diseases such as dengue, malaria, Zika virus, chikungunya or West Nile virus, according to The Guardian.
According to documents filed with US authorities, the US Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing Google's request to release up to 16 million mosquitoes per year for two years. The final decision is to be taken after the end of the public consultation period, scheduled for June 5.
How the method works
The program targets the Aedes aegypti mosquito species, known for its role in the spread of dengue fever, Zika virus, yellow fever and chikungunya.
The method used is based on infecting males with a natural bacterium called Wolbachia. Males do not sting or transmit disease, but when they mate with wild females, the resulting eggs do not hatch. Thus, the mosquito population gradually decreases from one generation to the next.
Google claims this approach is a safer alternative to traditional pesticides, which can become ineffective over time and have environmental impacts.
Artificial intelligence for mosquito control
The project is coordinated by the Debug division, which uses sensors, automated systems and artificial intelligence to breed and select insects. The technology is also used to separate males from females and to determine the optimal areas and quantities for releasing mosquitoes.
The program was originally developed as part of the company's experimental projects and has been tested for about a decade.
Promising results in Singapore
Google says the system has already been successfully tested in Singapore, where local authorities reported an 80-90% reduction in the Aedes aegypti population and a more than 70% drop in dengue cases within six to twelve months.
In May, the company announced the expansion of the program in Singapore, arguing that the results obtained give confidence to implement the project in other regions affected by mosquito-borne diseases.
Specialists emphasize, however, that any large-scale expansion must be carefully analyzed to assess possible effects on local ecosystems and to guarantee the long-term safety of the intervention.
