Collaboration reduces the risk of mosquito-borne diseases through public outreach
Florida mosquito season peaks in the summer months when temperatures are high and storms are frequent. The increase in rain means an increase in standing water, especially in small containers around homes and yards.
These overlooked puddles are ideal places for yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes to breed, which happen to be key vectors of dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya viruses.
To help combat the spread of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, Hillsborough County Mosquito Management and the Florida Department of Health joined forces to conduct community outreach.
Understanding mosquito-borne diseases
In Florida, one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases is dengue fever, with infection rates increasing significantly in the last few years. This illness can be acquired through local mosquitos, as well as from traveling internationally. It can also be transmitted by mosquitos that have acquired the disease from an infected traveler.
For instance, a person can travel to a dengue-endemic area and become infected with the virus through a mosquito bite. When the person returns home, they may unknowingly spread the disease when local mosquitoes bite them and transmit dengue to other people.
In 2024, the State of Florida logged 911 travel-associated dengue cases, of which 75 were in Hillsborough County. Additionally, the County recorded five locally acquired dengue fever cases last year.
Stopping outbreaks before they start
To help educate communities on the potential spread of mosquito-borne diseases and how to prevent them, the County's Mosquito Management Services partnered with the Florida Department of Health to conduct door-to-door outreach.
Neighborhood visits in May focused on dengue "hot spots," or areas with high cases of the disease reported in the last year. Many of the residents in these neighborhoods are Spanish-speaking and frequently travel to dengue-endemic regions such as South America and the Caribbean.
Each outreach team included one Spanish-speaker who could share information directly with members of households that only understood Spanish.
In addition to speaking directly with community members, the outreach teams also provided brochures and door hangers with information in both Spanish and English. They shared tips pertaining to mosquito control practices, precautions for travelers returning from dengue-endemic areas, and dengue symptoms to watch for after travel.
The outreach partnership resulted in a total of 180 homes visited, 46 front yard inspections, and several onsite mosquito treatments. Information packets, bug repellent, and pamphlets were also distributed.
Protecting your community from mosquitoes
Simple steps can be taken to slow the spread of mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. By just reducing the amount of standing water in your yard and neighborhood, residents can prevent mosquitoes from laying and hatching eggs.
By decreasing the mosquito population, the likelihood of being bitten and infected with a disease is reduced.
To help prevent mosquito breeding in your area, be sure to take the precautions below.
- Drain standing water. Drain water from garbage cans, gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or containers where water has collected.
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances, and other items that aren't being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet bowls.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps so they don't accumulate water.
- Maintain the water balance (pool chemistry) of swimming pools. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
- Repair leaky pipes, outside faucets, and faulty septic systems. Don't let runoff water from air conditioners collect in shady areas.
Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services
The County's mosquito management program protects communities by monitoring for mosquito-borne illnesses. Mosquito Management Services also manages the pests through biological methods, trapping, elimination of breeding sites, destruction of larvae, and spraying mosquito control products via ground and air.
More information about Hillsborough County's mosquito spray notifications, mosquitofish giveaway events, and general mosquito prevention can be found online.
Learn more about how Mosquito Management Services reduces the number of mosquitoes and protects residents from mosquito-borne diseases in the video below.