evidence: I read on the Internet that genetically modified mosquitoes released by the Bill Gates Foundation caused the Zika virus. Is that true? [...] The rumor began on Jan. 25 with a Reddit thread titled: "Genetically modified mosquitoes released in Brazil in 2015 linked to the current Zika epidemic?" Reddit is an news/entertainment networking service, where registered community members submit content. FactCheck.org reports that some media outlets, including Fox News, The Ecologist and The Daily Mail spread the rumor. Some websites, such as Natural News, also said that Bill Gates was involved. (The Gates name was probably included because the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided $19.7 million for a project to develop and test GM mosquitoes, according to Science.)