County helicopters treated Bloomingdale area for mosquito larvae Oct. 5 to Oct. 9
Low-flying helicopters sprayed a larvicide in Palm River and West Bloomingdale to fight the spread of dengue fever.
From our October archiveOriginally dated
Published
Hillsborough County helicopters treated neighborhoods for mosquito larvae from Oct. 5 to Oct. 9. The work covered Palm River and West Bloomingdale, plus East Lake and East Tampa.
The county used the flights to stop the spread of dengue fever. Mosquito traps in many neighborhoods showed dengue fever virus activity.
The helicopters applied liquid Bti to standing water. Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium. The county says it does not harm people, pets, fish, birds, or beneficial insects. It breaks down naturally in the environment.
The Palm River/West Bloomingdale zone had these boundaries:
North: Selmon Expressway
South: Alafia River
East: U.S. 301
West: Hillsborough Bay
The helicopters flew low, just above trees and buildings. They made repeated, parallel passes and caused loud noise.
Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services worked with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County. The county urges residents to follow the 3 Ds:
Dress in light-colored, long-sleeved clothing with closed-toed shoes.
Defend with an insect repellent that has DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Dump or cover standing water.
Residents can find current spray missions at HCFL.gov/MosquitoOperations. Residents can also sign up for alerts about aerial treatments in their neighborhood.