Pinellas County Expands Mosquito Prevention Efforts Ahead of Rainy Season

Pinellas County officials warn residents to eliminate standing water on their properties as Florida's rainy season nears. Mosquitoes can breed in tiny amounts. Even small puddles from lawn sprinklers during the current drought provide enough moisture for these insects to multiply, with 17 of the 40 species in the area capable of transmitting diseases.

"Mosquitoes only need a quarter-inch of water or a bottle cap to breed and continue their life cycle," said Caroline Pickart, according to Fox13 News. Pickart works as a senior environmental specialist with the county's control program.

The county uses a sentinel chicken program for public health surveillance. Eight chicken coops across the region allow employees to draw blood once a week to check for antibodies to mosquito-borne illnesses. The chickens are not harmed by the illnesses, but the data helps workers determine where treatments are most needed.

Entomologist Jason Stuck maintains 45 different traps to track breeding habits. Right now, there are about 100 mosquitoes in the traps. During the rainy season, it jumps from 1,000 to 5,000, depending on where the trap is.

The county also uses a helicopter to treat mosquitoes before they become adults in spots workers cannot reach on foot or by truck. "Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, it's a little bit of a tongue twister, but it's a soil bacteria that's been isolated, and it impacts only mosquitoes and black flies in that larval stage before they become an adult," said Alissa Berro, section manager of the control program.

Of the 40 species found in the county, 17 can spread diseases that cause symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and nausea. Health Department officials advise anyone feeling these symptoms to contact a physician.

Residents should use insect repellent containing DEET, lemon eucalyptus, IR3535 or picaridin. Wearing light-colored, long-sleeved clothing when outdoors also helps. The county offers free treatments for residents dealing with infestation at home through SeeClickFix or by calling 727-464-7503.

A free tire collection event will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents can bring up to 12 tires to one of three drop-off locations: the Household Hazardous Waste North facility at 29582 U.S. Highway 19 N. in Clearwater, Walsingham Park at 12615 102nd Ave. in Seminole, or Lealman Exchange at 5175 45th Street N. in St. Petersburg. Officials say one scrap tire can lead to thousands of mosquitoes in one season when water collects inside.