The recent announcement that Google had released 32 million mosquitoes in the United States has sparked considerable interest internationally. On the programme ‘We Live Here’ on 105.8 FM (2 June 2026) and also in the newspaper MAKEDONIA (12 June 2026), Spiros Mourelatos, former president of the European Mosquito Control Association and President of Ecodevelopment, was asked about this initiative and its significance for public health.
Google and ‘sterile male’ mosquitoes
As Spiros Mourelatos explained, Google’s programme, run through the company Debug, is not unprecedented. The technology is based on the production and release of sterile male mosquitoes, which compete with fertile males in the wild. In this way, the reproduction of mosquito populations is gradually curtailed and the total number of mosquitoes in the area where the programme is being implemented is reduced.
He mentioned that he had visited Debug’s facilities in Singapore, where one of the world’s largest programmes for the release of sterile mosquitoes is already underway. There, millions of male mosquitoes are released every week with the aim of reducing cases of dengue fever and protecting public health. As he emphasised, the technology shows great promise, but it is accompanied by significant challenges relating to the production, transport and cost of implementing such programmes.
Mosquitoes have long been considered the leading cause of death in human history, due to their role as vectors of serious diseases. Spiros Mourelatos referred in particular to malaria, which continues to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, as well as to diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya, which pose significant threats in parts of Asia, Africa and South America.
The danger posed by Aedes aegypti and the situation in Europe
Spiros Mourelatos also referred to the species Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue fever. Although this species was previously present in Greece and had been linked to serious epidemics, it is not currently established in the country. However, its presence in Cyprus and in parts of the Mediterranean is raising scientists’ concerns, as climate change and population movements are creating new conditions for its spread. At the same time, he explained that the mere appearance of a mosquito is not in itself sufficient to cause an epidemic. A necessary prerequisite is the presence of the corresponding pathogenic microorganism, such as a virus or parasite, which will be transmitted via the insect.
The Asian tiger mosquito and the role of the public
Particular emphasis was placed on the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which has now become established in many Greek cities and is a major nuisance to the public. According to Mr Mourelatos, this is a quintessentially urban species, which breeds in small pools of stagnant water around homes. As he explained, even the saucers beneath plant pots can become breeding grounds. For this reason, public awareness and participation are crucial factors in the effective control of tiger mosquito populations.
The next chapter in the fight against mosquitoes
The interview highlighted that the fight against mosquitoes is entering a new era, in which traditional methods are being supplemented by innovative biological techniques and modern technologies. The release of sterile male mosquitoes is a prime example of this transition, aimed at the sustainable protection of public health and a reduction in reliance on chemical interventions, particularly in densely built-up urban environments. As Spiros Mourelatos emphasised, the success of these approaches requires scientific evidence, proper planning and active community involvement; however, there are still three significant constraints to their implementation on a large scale:
dependence on specific, remote producers of these sterile insects; increased financial costs; and the need for continuous and repeated releases. In a world where climatic and environmental conditions are constantly changing, investment in innovation and prevention is now a necessity rather than a choice.
Listen to the following excerpt from Spiros Mourelatos’s interview with Elena Karagianni.
Read Nikos Iliadis’s article in the MAKEDONIA newspaper here “Can Google solve the mosquito problem in Central Macedonia?”