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Mosquitoes Prompt Five Florida Counties to Issue Mosquito-Borne Illness Health Advisories ~June 18 – 24 is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week; Fight the Bite~ NAPLES, FL (June 20, 2023) – Florida’s rainy season is here. More rain leads to more mosquitoes that only require a bottle cap of standing water to breed and spread. National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 18-24, is an important reminder that mosquitoes are not only annoying but can transmit harmful and deadly diseases. In Florida, mosquito-borne disease activity has already prompted mosquito-control and state health officials in five counties - Orange, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, and Miami-Dade - to issue mosquito borne-illness health warnings. Local mosquito control officials are urging residents and visitors to take basic precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to help limit exposure. With Florida recording a record 37.9 million tourists in the first three months of 2023, it is imperative that everyone follows simple tips to keep their loved ones and themselves safe. “Like humans, mosquitoes live around the world but love to come to Florida,” said Sandra Fisher-Grainger, President of the Florida Mosquito Control Association and Director of Hernando County Mosquito Control. “Our highly trained scientists and experts are always working to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness, and every resident and visitor can help to limit the risk.” Florida is fortunate to have the best mosquito-control professionals in the country, deploying high-tech measures and year-round attention to combat the world’s deadliest animal. Earlier this year, a mosquito species discovered in Florida in 2018 – the Culex lactator – was found to be spreading to other parts of the state, including Collier County, and raising fears that it could spread disease after migrating from Central America. Already this year, Miami-Dade County has had two cases of dengue infection transmitted by local mosquitoes. Late last month, Sarasota and Manatee counties issued a warning after local transmission of malaria was found. Earlier this month, Orange County issued a mosquito advisory after half of the chickens in a coop designed to monitor mosquito-spread diseases tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and several horses have shown to be infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Polk County. “Collier Mosquito Control District must respond as forcefully and quickly as possible to prevent transmission of mosquito-borne disease in our area,” said Keira Lucas, Deputy Executive Director at Collier Mosquito Control District in southwest Florida. “Following simple steps can help you protect your home and your family, especially during the summer months when we are spending more time outdoors.” These steps include: Draining standing water around your home; Dressing in long sleeves and long pants; Defending yourself by using an EPA-approved insect repellant with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535; During dusk and dawn, avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active. Mosquitoes transmit a multitude of diseases that can cause great harm – including West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever. Successful mosquito control requires cutting-edge scientific knowledge from many fields, including entomology, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, genetics, and geology. Highly trained public servants control mosquitoes through several tools including airplanes, helicopters, traps, drones, and more. Every sector of the state’s economy depends on the health of workers, residents, and visitors. The state’s two largest business sectors, tourism and agriculture, could not grow without the control of mosquitoes and the diseases they spread. ### About Collier Mosquito Control District The Collier Mosquito Control District (the District), created in 1950, is an Independent Special District of the State of Florida contributing to the health, welfare, and comfort of District residents through integrated pest management programs that suppress mosquito populations. These programs use the safest and most economical means available to enhance quality of life while having minimal adverse effects on people, wildlife, and the environment. The District is dedicated to using best practices to uphold the public trust, applying sound science, and maintaining economic responsibility. For more information, call (239) 436-1000 or visit www.cmcd.org.
Mosquitoes Prompt Five Florida Counties to Issue Mosquito-Borne Illness Health Advisories
~June 18 – 24 is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week; Fight the Bite~
NAPLES, FL (June 20, 2023) – Florida’s rainy season is here. More rain leads to more mosquitoes that only require a bottle cap of standing water to breed and spread.
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 18-24, is an important reminder that mosquitoes are not only annoying but can transmit harmful and deadly diseases.
In Florida, mosquito-borne disease activity has already prompted mosquito-control and state health officials in five counties - Orange, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, and Miami-Dade - to issue mosquito borne-illness health warnings. Local mosquito control officials are urging residents and visitors to take basic precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to help limit exposure.
With Florida recording a record 37.9 million tourists in the first three months of 2023, it is imperative that everyone follows simple tips to keep their loved ones and themselves safe.
“Like humans, mosquitoes live around the world but love to come to Florida,” said Sandra Fisher-Grainger, President of the Florida Mosquito Control Association and Director of Hernando County Mosquito Control. “Our highly trained scientists and experts are always working to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness, and every resident and visitor can help to limit the risk.”
Florida is fortunate to have the best mosquito-control professionals in the country, deploying high-tech measures and year-round attention to combat the world’s deadliest animal.
Earlier this year, a mosquito species discovered in Florida in 2018 – the Culex lactator – was found to be spreading to other parts of the state, including Collier County, and raising fears that it could spread disease after migrating from Central America.
Already this year, Miami-Dade County has had two cases of dengue infection transmitted by local mosquitoes.
Late last month, Sarasota and Manatee counties issued a warning after local transmission of malaria was found.
Earlier this month, Orange County issued a mosquito advisory after half of the chickens in a coop designed to monitor mosquito-spread diseases tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and several horses have shown to be infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Polk County.
“Collier Mosquito Control District must respond as forcefully and quickly as possible to prevent transmission of mosquito-borne disease in our area,” said Keira Lucas, Deputy Executive Director at Collier Mosquito Control District in southwest Florida. “Following simple steps can help you protect your home and your family, especially during the summer months when we are spending more time outdoors.”
These steps include:
Mosquitoes transmit a multitude of diseases that can cause great harm – including West Nile virus, malaria, and dengue fever.
Successful mosquito control requires cutting-edge scientific knowledge from many fields, including entomology, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, genetics, and geology.
Highly trained public servants control mosquitoes through several tools including airplanes, helicopters, traps, drones, and more.
Every sector of the state’s economy depends on the health of workers, residents, and visitors. The state’s two largest business sectors, tourism and agriculture, could not grow without the control of mosquitoes and the diseases they spread.
###
About Collier Mosquito Control District
The Collier Mosquito Control District (the District), created in 1950, is an Independent Special District of the State of Florida contributing to the health, welfare, and comfort of District residents through integrated pest management programs that suppress mosquito populations. These programs use the safest and most economical means available to enhance quality of life while having minimal adverse effects on people, wildlife, and the environment. The District is dedicated to using best practices to uphold the public trust, applying sound science, and maintaining economic responsibility. For more information, call (239) 436-1000 or visit www.cmcd.org.