Sacramento deploys sterile-mosquito releases to tackle disease-spreading Aedes aegypti
Sacramento’s Rosemont neighborhood kicked off a Sterile Insect Technique program by releasing 144,000 sterile male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to outcompete wild males and reduce the invasive population, part of a plan to release 2.3 million sterile insects over 16 weeks. The Wolbachia-based approach is environmentally friendly and targets only Aedes aegypti, with previous Natomas pilot showing up to 40% population reduction. The program aims to lower disease risk from dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, while public health officials emphasize the need for residents to drain standing water, use repellents, and report unusual activity. If successful, the program could expand to additional areas.
