PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Pinellas County Mosquito Control has expanded suppression operations in the Palm Harbor area following a Mosquito-Borne Illness Alert issued by the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. The alert was issued after health officials confirmed two locally acquired cases of Dengue Fever.
In response to elevated virus activity and mosquito population counts late last week, county crews expanded ground inspections and initiated dawn truck-mounted fogging operations. Mosquito control staff are working in coordination with local health officials to conduct surveillance, public education, and target treatments in the affected area.
Dengue Fever is transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These species are active during the day and commonly breed in small water containers found on private properties. Because standard adulticide applications and aerial larviciding are less effective against container-breeding species, field teams are utilizing targeted backpack fogging treatments, daily surveillance, and door-to-door property inspections.
“Our team has worked closely with FDOH Pinellas for surveillance, education and treatment in the impacted area,” the county stated in a press release. “But we need residents to act as well.”
Officials are asking residents to allow technicians onto private land to identify potential breeding spots, noting that removing standing water remains the primary defense against daytime mosquito species.
“Because of the prevalence of these mosquitoes on private property, our door-to-door inspections are particularly important,” the county added. “We encourage residents to allow our technicians the opportunity to identify and eliminate breeding locations on their property.”
Separately, county monitoring networks detected an increase in West Nile virus activity among sentinel chicken flocks, which are used as early indicators for West Nile, St. Louis Encephalitis, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. To curb potential spread, officials have scheduled additional overnight truck treatments and daytime aerial sprays across the county. No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Pinellas County this year.
Health officials advise the public to protect themselves by wearing light-colored, long-sleeved clothing with closed-toed shoes, applying repellents containing CDC-recommended ingredients like DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, and draining or covering any open water containers, including storm debris.
Residents tracking treatment schedules can access the county’s interactive mosquito treatment map online. Individuals who suspect they have contracted a mosquito-borne illness are advised to contact the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County at (727) 824-6932.
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