Neighboring counties, municipalities, as well as state and federal partners, unite to address a public health concern
Hillsborough County continues to ramp up its response to rising cases of mosquito-borne dengue fever, joining forces with agencies across Florida to reduce the risk of further transmission.
The coordinated effort brings together neighboring counties, local municipalities, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each partner contributes specialized equipment, personnel, surveillance, or on-the-ground operations to support Hillsborough County's mosquito management efforts.
From helicopter treatments targeting mosquito breeding sites to neighborhood inspections and more, the response demonstrates how the state is coming together to address a public health concern that requires action across multiple communities. Hillsborough County Mosquito Management and partners continue to identify where mosquitoes are breeding, which treatments are appropriate, and work with residents and businesses to eliminate conditions that allow mosquitoes to reproduce.
Neighboring counties lend a hand
Hillsborough County is receiving aerial mosquito-management assistance from Lee and Manatee counties. These partnerships allow agencies to share specialized resources and expand treatment operations.
Lee County is assisting with helicopter operations that apply larvicide to mosquito breeding sites. Larvicides target mosquitoes in their immature stages before they develop into biting adult mosquitoes. Manatee County is assisting with helicopter operations that apply adulticide, which targets adult mosquitoes. These treatments complement larvicide applications by addressing mosquitoes at different stages of their life cycle.
The additional support helps expand the reach of mosquito-control operations while allowing participating counties to contribute the equipment and expertise needed for different types of treatments. And it's not just neighboring counties lending a hand.
Across the state from east-central Florida, Brevard County is joining the fight by assisting Hillsborough County with ground-based mosquito inspections and larvicide treatments. Specialized trucks allow crews to access areas where mosquito breeding may be occurring, inspect potential sites, and treat standing water where appropriate. Brevard County has also sent a biologist to Hillsborough to assist the County's Mosquito Management team with surveillance. Together, these efforts provide additional resources for identifying mosquito activity and targeting breeding sites across the county.
Learn more about aerial mosquito operations in Hillsborough County, including information about the products used in the sky and on the ground.
Surveillance determines where treatments are needed
Effective mosquito management begins with understanding mosquito populations, identifying species, and determining where activity is concentrated. FDACS and the CDC are assisting with mosquito surveillance, including efforts to count and monitor mosquitoes. This information helps mosquito-management teams better understand local mosquito activity and determine where treatment is needed. Surveillance is an important part of an effective response because mosquitoes differ in their behavior, breeding locations, and ability to transmit disease. The CDC is also providing a hand with internal Geographic Information System (GIS) maps, used to keep track of key items like trap sites, chicken coop locations, and service requests.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector of dengue virus in Hillsborough County, commonly breeds in small containers that hold water around homes and businesses. Monitoring mosquito populations and identifying potential breeding areas helps inform decisions about where to direct control efforts. By combining surveillance with aerial operations, ground inspections, and targeted treatments, partnering agencies can coordinate their work and use available resources where they are needed the most.
Addressing breeding sites in neighborhoods
The City of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City are also playing a critical role in Hillsborough County's response to dengue. Code Enforcement divisions from each municipality are working directly with property owners and businesses to address conditions that can support mosquito breeding. Crews are on the ground to help identify potential breeding sites, conducting property inspections, and working with property and business owners to correct conditions that may allow standing water to accumulate.
Additional activities include:
- Removing illegally dumped tires: Discarded tires can collect rainwater and provide sheltered breeding sites for mosquitoes. Removing them helps eliminate potential breeding sites.
- Canvassing neighborhoods: Staff visit neighborhoods to identify potential mosquito breeding sites and raise awareness about prevention.
- Treating standing water: Crews address appropriate water-holding sites with treatments designed to control mosquito larvae.
- Conducting business outreach: Staff work with businesses to explain mosquito prevention practices and encourage the elimination of standing water on commercial properties.
These efforts complement Mosquito Management's spray operations by addressing the environmental conditions that allow mosquitoes to reproduce. Even with aerial and ground treatments underway, containers and other items on private and commercial properties can create new breeding sites if they are not addressed.
Residents play an important role in prevention
While agencies coordinate surveillance, inspections, and treatments, residents can help reduce mosquito populations by eliminating standing water around their homes. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is well adapted to living near people and can breed in a small amount of water. Residents should regularly inspect their properties, empty containers holding water, remove unnecessary items that collect rainwater, and scrub containers when practical to remove mosquito eggs. Hillsborough County Mosquito Management suggests items that must remain outdoors be covered or stored so they do not collect water.
Dengue spreads when an infected mosquito bites a person. Preventing mosquito bites and reducing the number of mosquitoes around homes and businesses are important steps in lowering the risk of transmission.
Learn more about common household items that can become mosquito breeding sites as well as tips to protect yourself from the pest while outside.
A coordinated response to a shared challenge
The collaboration among counties, municipalities, as well as state and federal agencies, demonstrates the importance of a coordinated approach to mosquito management. Each partner contributes a different capability, from aerial treatments and specialized ground equipment to mosquito surveillance, property inspections, and public education.
Although treatments can help knock down mosquito populations, continued surveillance and the elimination of breeding sites remain essential to the ongoing response. Residents can help support these efforts by checking their properties regularly, addressing standing water, and following mosquito prevention guidance.
Stay up to date on aerial treatment operations and sign up for notifications about localized treatments through the County's Mosquito Operations webpage.
Mosquito control services are funded in part by Hillsborough County property tax dollars.