Google Plans 32 Million Infected Mosquitoes to Fight Diseases

Google (Alphabet) has asked the EPA for permission to breed and release up to 32 million Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in Florida and California over two years as part of its Debug project, using the sterile-insect technique to reduce wild mosquito populations and curb transmission of diseases like West Nile, dengue, Zika, and more. The plan envisions 16 million releases in Florida first, then 16 million in California, with robots rearing and AI sorting by sex. The EPA is reviewing the Experimental Use Permit and opening public feedback, while some residents express concerns about environmental impact and backyard exposure.