Starting today, Orange County will roll out aerial spraying initiatives targeting mosquito populations, particularly in areas hit by Hurricane Milton, announced Orange County Mosquito Control. With the aftermath of the storm leaving ample standing water, mosquito breeding grounds have markedly expanded, increasing the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Oropouche virus.
The targeted areas for spraying include communities of Alafaya, Apopka, Bithlo, Dr. Phillips, Fort Christmas, Lake Nona, and Wedgefield, WFTV reports. These areas showed West Nile Virus activity as detected through the Sentinel Chicken program operated by the county's Mosquito Control division, and the presence of standing water, from the recent hurricane, offers further cause for concern.
The division manager for Orange County Mosquito Control, Steve Harrison, emphasized the safety and effectiveness of this mitigation method. "This safe and effective practice, used worldwide, involves spraying a very small amount of EPA-approved insecticide over designated areas at night,” Harrison stressed. This approach targets the nocturnal tendencies of the mosquitoes to minimize impact on other insect populations, and the environment, according to MyNews13.
Residents concerned about heightened mosquito activity or the upcoming aerial treatments can reach out to the county’s 311 hotline to voice issues in their homes or neighborhoods. As for the operational side, Orange County Government collaborates with multiple partners including the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and third-party vendors contracted by FDACS, employing either planes or helicopters to dispense the treatments effectively across the county.
