Debug Project: 2025

World Mosquito Program and Debug will collaborate to combat mosquito-borne diseases

The World Mosquito Program (WMP) of Monash University and Debug by Alphabet announced today that they are teaming up to explore a collaboration to deploy automated releases of Wolbachia Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to combat mosquito-borne diseases. This collaboration will leverage WMP's proven Wolbachia replacement method and Debug's proprietary rearing and release technologies to rapidly scale programs that reduce the transmission of diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

World Mosquito Program and Debug will collaborate to combat mosquito-borne diseases

WMP has been at the forefront of innovative approaches in Wolbachia replacement programs globally. This safe and sustainable approach has been shown to significantly reduce the ability of mosquitoes to transmit viruses. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a 77% reduction in dengue incidence in areas where Wolbachia was deployed in field trials conducted by WMP in Yogyakarta, Indonesia[1]. Further results in Colombia’s Aburrá Valley and the Brazilian city of Niterói show the lowest number of dengue cases in more than 20 years, following WMP’s Wolbachia releases.

Debug has developed proprietary end-to-end technology that includes automated rearing robots, AI powered visual sex sorting systems, data surveillance, and release platforms to efficiently deploy Wolbachia suppression programs in several countries. Debug’s automated release platform on vehicles enables coverage of large areas more effectively than manual methods while leveraging software for targeted distribution.

The collaboration between WMP and Debug brings together two global leaders in the fight against vector-borne disease. By combining the respective expertise and compatible values on global health impact, the collaboration aims to accelerate progress of current and future Wolbachia programs to reduce the global burden from mosquito-borne diseases.

Synergistic Approach: Debug's proprietary technologies can be integrated with WMP's Wolbachia replacement method to increase efficiency and coverage.
Innovation and Scalability: The alliance will foster innovation and the development of scalable solutions that can be implemented in diverse settings.
Global Health Impact: This complementary collaboration has the potential to protect more people from the devastating effects of mosquito-borne diseases.

Linus Upson, founder of Debug, shared “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with WMP. In addition to utilizing the technology we have built to deliver Debug's proven Wolbachia suppression programs, we can provide our proprietary technology to deliver automated releases in WMP’s Wolbachia replacement programs worldwide. This is an exciting moment to unify groundbreaking biological and technological achievements to make a global impact.”

Scott O’Neill, CEO and Founder of the World Mosquito Program, said “Debug’s automated release technologies have the potential to significantly increase the speed and efficiency of our Wolbachia releases, accelerating our goal of protecting as many people as possible worldwide.”

Kieran Walters, Executive Director of Strategy & Partnerships of the World Mosquito Program, shared “We are thrilled to form an alliance with Debug to combat one of the biggest global health threats of the 21st century. By combining our technologies, we can deliver an integrated solution to protect vulnerable communities from mosquito-borne diseases on an unprecedented scale.”

About World Mosquito Program

The World Mosquito Program (WMP) is a not-for-profit group of companies wholly owned by Monash University, Australia, that works to protect the global community from mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. After effectively eliminating transmission of these viruses from Australia, WMP has expanded to now be working in 16 countries across Asia, Oceania and the Americas, protecting more than 13.5 million people. For more information, please visit World Mosquito Program.

More information about WMP’s Wolbachia Method

Wolbachia – a common bacterium found in about 50 percent of insects – is introduced in the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. The Wolbachia bacterium prevents the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from transmitting these diseases.

The Wolbachia mosquitoes are then released in areas where mosquito-borne viruses are endemic. As they breed with wild mosquitoes, the number of Wolbachia mosquitoes grows over time until it remains high without the need for further releases.

Unlike other measures against mosquito-borne diseases, the Wolbachia method is safe for people, mosquitoes and the environment, and offers a once-off, long-term and self-sustaining solution to control the spread and impacts of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever.

[1] Source: Adi Utarini et al “Efficacy of Wolbachia-Infected Mosquito Deployments for the Control of Dengue” The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 384, No 23, June 2021 (link)

About Debug

Debug is an Alphabet project that has developed proprietary technology to automate the rearing, sorting, and release of millions of non-biting, non-GMO, sterile male mosquitoes at scale for Wolbachia suppression programs. The end-to-end technology includes automated rearing robots, AI powered visual sex sorting systems, and data surveillance and release platforms to optimize efficiency and performance. Debug releases mosquitoes into targeted areas identified using ongoing surveillance.