Florida’s dengue fever count climbed to 485 cases this year, a jump of 93 in a single week, and Hillsborough County now leads the state with 230 confirmed cases. Manatee and Sarasota counties haven’t recorded a local case yet, but local mosquito authorities aren’t waiting for one. Manatee County Mosquito Control is flying helicopter spraying missions over urban Bradenton and Palmetto every two weeks, covering roughly 30,000 acres each time, while coordinating with the Florida Department of Health.
The mosquito responsible is the yellow fever mosquito, originally from Africa. It transmits dengue, but also yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. That last name matters locally: Dr. Jay Wolfson of USF Health reminds us that Zika caused birth defects during the 2016 outbreak in Miami. Christopher Lesser, director of the Manatee County Mosquito Control District, says monitoring mosquito migration is a big part of the current strategy. Sarasota County officials report no local human cases this year but see imported cases annually.
For residents, the practical steps haven’t changed. Empty anything in your yard that holds water for more than a few days, from birdbaths to tarps to flower pot saucers. Use EPA-approved repellent, especially at dawn and dusk. And if you commute into Hillsborough County for work, treat that as extra reason to stay vigilant. Keeping this from becoming a local story is a team effort.
Have you noticed more mosquitoes in your neighborhood this fall? Tell us in the comments.
