Florida OKs release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Keys to slow insect disease spread

Florida officials are authorizing a biotech company to release hundreds of millions of genetically-modified male mosquitos into the Florida Keys to reduce future mosquito populations that spread diseases including yellow fever and malaria.

Only female mosquitos consume human blood, so the increased number of males theoretically shouldn't bother the human population of the region too much.

The modified insects being released by the Oxitec company are expected to produce artificially weak offspring with the female population that will not make it to mosquito-adulthood, quelling the total population number over time. 

Advocates of the plan say it could eventually save millions of lives around the world.