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Pinellas County increases mosquito control in Palm Harbor following Department of Health-Pinellas Dengue Fever alert

Pinellas County Mosquito Control is ramping up efforts to reduce mosquito populations and urging residents to take actions to protect themselves in the Palm Harbor area following the Mosquito Borne Illness Alert from the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County confirming two cases of locally-acquired Dengue Fever.

Mosquito control crews increased ground inspections and initiated dawn truck mounted fogging when monitoring efforts showed increased virus activity and mosquito populations at the end of last week. Our team has worked closely with FDOH Pinellas for surveillance, education and treatment in the impacted area.

But we need residents to act as well.

Dengue Fever is transmitted by the infected bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes – two types of mosquitoes that are active during the daytime and breed in containers, making them prevalent on private property during peak activity times. Traditional adulticide treatments and aerial larviciding treatments are not effective in targeting these species.

Pinellas County Mosquito Control is urging residents to dump out any standing water around their property as it is the most effective measure against these species. Mosquito control will continue daytime backpack fogging treatments, daily surveillance and door-to-door inspections to reduce populations. Because of the prevalence of these mosquitoes on private property, our door-to-door inspections are particularly important. We encourage residents to allow our technicians the opportunity to identify and eliminate breeding locations on their property.

County Mosquito Control staff has also observed an uptick in West Nile virus in our sentinel chickens, which serve as an early warning indicator for West Nile, St. Louis and Eastern Equine Encephalitis around the county. Because of this, we are enhancing overnight truck treatments and daytime aerial treatments to suppress virus transmission across the county. No cases of West Nile virus have been reported in humans in Pinellas County so far this year.

To view recent and planned treatments across the county, residents can visit our interactive mosquito treatment map.

The best way for residents to protect themselves is to follow the 3 Ds:

  • Dress light-colored, long-sleeved clothing with closed-toed shoes.
  • Defend using an insect repellent with a CDC-recommended ingredient such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
  • Dump or cover standing water, which can include debris from recent storm events holding water.

If you believe you have a mosquito-borne illness, please immediately contact the FDOH in Pinellas County at (727) 824-6932.