Mosquitoes Remain a Concern in Miami-Dade This Fall
Fall may bring slightly cooler temperatures and less rain to South Florida, but that doesn’t mean mosquitoes are going away. Miami-Dade County officials are reminding residents to continue taking precautions year-round, particularly as the county remains on alert for mosquito-borne illnesses.
Miami-Dade is once again under a mosquito-borne illness alert following the confirmation of eight locally transmitted dengue cases, according to information released by the county.
“In Miami-Dade County, mosquito season never ends, so we must stay vigilant all year to protect public health,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.Among the most important recommendations are draining standing water around homes, applying EPA-registered insect repellent to exposed skin and wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing to help prevent mosquito bites.
The warning is especially important because some mosquitoes need very little water to reproduce. According to Mosquito Control Division Chief Dr. John-Paul Mutebi, just one ounce of water can be enough for mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti to complete their life cycle. This species can transmit viruses that cause dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
Miami-Dade Steps Up Mosquito Surveillance
The Mosquito Control Division of Miami-Dade County’s Department of Solid Waste Management will continue monitoring mosquito populations and providing residential and commercial inspections throughout the fall.
County environmental technicians service more than 350 mosquito traps every week, while laboratory specialists identify and classify mosquitoes and analyze data to determine where additional treatments may be necessary.
As part of its response to dengue, the county has also conducted area-wide truck treatments using a larvicide containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, commonly known as Bti. The bacteria targets mosquito larvae and is used alongside treatments designed to reduce adult mosquito populations.
County officials also work closely with the Florida Department of Health, Florida International University and University of Florida researchers on disease surveillance, pesticide resistance testing, viral detection and mosquito research.Residents experiencing unusual mosquito activity can request an inspection by calling 311 or through Miami-Dade County’s online services miamidade.gov/mosquitoinspection
The advice for families this fall is simple: regularly check patios, flowerpots, buckets, containers and other areas where water can collect. Even as South Florida’s rainy season begins to wind down, mosquito prevention remains a year-round responsibility in Miami-Dade.
A few minutes spent eliminating standing water around the home can help reduce breeding sites and protect families and neighborhoods from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne illnesses.
