After the severe flooding that South Florida suffered due to torrential rains, the number of mosquitoes in the area may increase and people should take measures to protect themselves, said an expert from the University of Florida (UF).
“An increase in the number of mosquitoes could be expected in the weeks after to the extensive rainfall events that took place in South Florida last week,” said Eva Buckner, a professor and medical entomologist at the UF/IFAS Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Buckner explained that flooding can cause mosquito eggs, which had been laid on the ground during previous floods, hatch. This situation can result in very large populations of mosquitoes.
Most of these mosquitoes are considered nuisances because they can initially bite, but not transmit viruses to humans. Also, if the flood waters don’t recede, standing water mosquitoes can start laying new eggs in this water, he said.
As for whether some of these mosquitoes can transmit viruses such as Zika and West Nile, the entomologist said that in general, flood mosquitoes are considered just annoying and not dangerous, except for Aedes aegypti, a species that can transmit the chikungunya virus, zika and dengue.
In Florida, this species can be found in urban and suburban areas in the peninsular area of the state. In areas with Aedes aegypti, the increase in rainfall can result in an increase in the hatching of their eggs in containers and debris that contain water, explained the professor and Extension specialist at the UF/IFAS Medical Entomology Laboratory, located in Vero Beach, which remains in close contact with many of the more than 65 mosquito control programs.
“This year, we have had no travel-related cases of chikungunya or Zika virus, so transmission of these viruses is not expected. However, the risk of becoming infected with the Aedes aegypti dengue virus may be slightly increased in areas where this species of mosquito is present,” he warned.
And travel-associated dengue cases occur, as is the case in Miami-Dade County where 60 cases have been documented so far in 2023, according to figures provided by the specialist.
The Miami-Dade County Florida Department of Health (DOH-Miami-Dade) reported last week of two local cases of dengue infection for which an alert of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes is maintained and due to the recent rains, the health authorities asked people to take measures to avoid accumulated water.
Buckner said some species of standing water mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus, “so we need to protect ourselves from their bites.”
How to avoid bites
For the expert, the most important advice to avoid mosquito bites is to use repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that contain one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, lemon eucalyptus oil ( OLE), paramenthanediol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.
Also wearing long-sleeved shirts and loose-fitting pants can help protect you from mosquito bites.
To reduce mosquito production, remove water from containers commonly found in your yard, such as pet cups, vases, birdbaths, buckets, toys, under-pot dishes, and cans.
“You can reduce the risk of getting these diseases just by removing or treating this standing water,” he said.
Use pellets or tablets containing the subspecies of bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) to kill immature mosquitoes in containers that cannot be easily dewatered, such as birdbaths or bromeliads.
Bti-treated water is safe for animal consumption. Products with Bti can be purchased at hardware stores or department stores.
For larger water areas, population management and water treatment are best done by mosquito control agencies. Contact your local mosquito control program to request treatment.
2023-04-23 21:06:58
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