Lisbon mosquito experiment releases 30,000 sterile insects

Approximately 30,000 sterile male Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) have been released in the Alvalade neighborhood of Lisbon as part of a public health experiment. This release marks the final stage of the current phase of the project, bringing the total number of sterile individuals released in Portugal to roughly 90,000.

The initiative aims to reduce the population of this mosquito species, which is known to transmit diseases such as dengue, Zika, and yellow fever. Because only female mosquitoes bite humans to feed on blood, the released males pose no direct threat to people. Instead, they are intended to mate with wild females, resulting in offspring that cannot be produced, thereby gradually lowering the breeding population.

Project leader and public health physician Afonso Moreira stated that the sterilization method used is proven and safe. Researchers are now monitoring the survival rates, dispersal patterns, and the overall impact on reproduction. If successful, results will be compared against areas using traditional control methods in May. Experts note that while this method is beneficial, it must be combined with the elimination of mosquito breeding sites to be fully effective.