Barcelona releases male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia to curb disease
Barcelona has begun a large-scale release of male mosquitoes carrying the Wolbachia parasite, aiming to reduce mosquito-borne illnesses.
The city launched the biggest European trial of its kind, dispersing male mosquitoes that harbour Wolbachia, which renders them effectively sterile. The program will run through mid-November and follows Singapore’s success, where the same parasite helped cut dengue cases dramatically. Wolbachia offers a non-gene-editing route to suppress mosquito populations, a key advantage under current regulations. Officials say the technology already exists and could be decisive as climate change expands mosquito habitats.
Why it matters
The initiative could provide a scalable, regulation-friendly way to lower the risk of diseases like dengue as mosquitoes spread to new areas.
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