Google backs large-scale sterile-mosquito release to curb West Nile in CA and FL
Google, via its Verily life-sciences unit, is seeking EPA approval to release about 64 million Wolbachia-infected sterile male mosquitoes in California and Florida over two years (16 million per state per year) to suppress the Culex quinquefasciatus population and reduce transmission of West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis. Males don’t bite, and when they mate with wild females lacking Wolbachia, eggs don’t hatch, lowering mosquito numbers. The initiative uses the suppression method and is not genetically modified. Public comment on the plan is open until June 5; releases have not been mapped to specific counties.