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600,000 mosquitos are being dropped around Washington DC to kill off blood-sucking pests
The Independent • • health
Key Points:
- Approximately 600,000 male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria are being released across Washington, D.C., to control the population of female mosquitoes that spread diseases like West Nile virus and dengue.
- These sterilized male mosquitoes mate with females, causing their eggs to be infertile and thereby reducing the overall mosquito population without biting humans.
- The initiative, led by Maryland's Bee Safe Mosquito Control, targets the invasive Asian Tiger mosquito, which can transmit several serious diseases, and is expected to show results within about a month.
- Similar Wolbachia-based mosquito control projects have been successful internationally and are being pursued in other U.S. states, including California and Florida.
- The mosquito releases will continue through September 2026, with plans to potentially increase the number deployed in future seasons.
