Pinellas County extends State of Local Emergency for dengue

Under authority delegated by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton today extended the State of Local Emergency related to the mosquito-borne spread of dengue until Oct. 29.

The BCC adopted a resolution declaring the emergency on Sept. 24, in response to the public health threat posed by dengue. The resolution authorizes the County Administrator authority to expedite mosquito control expenditures and allows for potential reimbursement if funding becomes available.

According to the latest Florida Department of Health (FDOH) report, released Oct. 22, Pinellas County has had 51 confirmed cases of dengue since August. Across the Tampa Bay region, 401 cases have been confirmed in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties, an increase of 14 percent over the Oct. 15 report.

Pinellas County Mosquito Control continues its enhanced efforts to reduce mosquito populations and limit the spread of dengue. However, high winds forecast for this week have delayed the first aerial mosquito larvae treatments, announced earlier this week. Treatments are expected to begin no earlier than the middle of next week, weather permitting. Residents can register to receive notifications of scheduled aerial larvae treatments in their area at Pinellas.gov/Alert-Pinellas.

Residents also have until Friday, Oct. 30, to take advantage of waived tire disposal fees at Pinellas County Solid Waste. The temporary waiver allows Pinellas County residents to dispose of up to four tires from their home at no charge. Tires from businesses will not be accepted. Discarded tires are common breeding grounds for mosquitoes because of how easily they hold standing water.

For more details about the tire fee disposal, our planned aerial larvae treatments and other County efforts to combat dengue, visit Pinellas.gov/dengue.