BRONSON URGES PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL MOSQUITO EXPLOSION

TALLAHASSEE - The drought plaguing Florida has had one benefit:  a significant drop in the mosquito population that is usually seen this time of year.  But Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson is urging residents to prepare for that to change.  As soon as the normal rain patterns return, Florida is likely to see a mosquito population explosion.

The lack of water has prevented eggs from hatching.  But mosquito eggs from certain species can be very resilient, lying in wait for the next heavy rain for up to several years.  When the wet weather arrives, all the eggs hatch at once, creating a huge increase in the number of pesky pests.

Bronson says people need to keep that in mind and be ready for a possible onslaught of mosquitoes and with them the potential for mosquito-borne illnesses. 

The Commissioner is urging horse owners to make sure that their animals are vaccinated against two of the diseases -- West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). 

"So far there this year there have been no reports of human cases of mosquito-borne illnesses in Florida and we've had five EEE cases in horses compared with a high of 207 cases in 2003," Bronson said.  "We haven't seen any West Nile cases either and I hope with proper protections we can continue this trend." 

In addition to WNV and EEE, mosquitoes can transmit St. Louis Encephalitis and malaria.

Floridians and visitors can protect themselves against mosquito borne disease by taking common-sense steps, including:

-- Limit time outside during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

-- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to cover skin and reduce the chance of being bitten. 

-- Eliminate standing water in yards, such as in birdbaths, kiddie pools, old tires and other receptacles.  Stagnant water is an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes.
 
-- Use insect repellent that contains DEET, which is an effective repellent.

Horse owners are also urged to check with their veterinarian to make sure that their animals have received current vaccinations against WNV and EEE, and that these shots are kept up to date.

"Florida's mosquito control districts have done a tremendous job with ongoing monitoring of mosquito populations and taking action when necessary," Bronson said.  "But ultimately, it is up to people to take steps to protect themselves and their animals from mosquito-borne diseases."

Across Florida, there are 56 mosquito control districts that routinely conduct proactive mosquito surveillance with specific and effective research.  They have improved methods of controlling mosquitoes, improved identification of mosquito species that transmit disease, established procedures for the early detection of new mosquitoes, and researched environmental factors that make mosquito disease outbreaks more likely.

For more information on mosquito-borne diseases and prevention, consumers can call the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352), or visit the department's web site at http://www.doacs.state.fl.us.  Information on the subject also is available at the Florida Department of Health's web site at http://www.doh.state.fl.us.

         -30-

Do not send replies directly to this email address as they will be delivered to an unmonitored mailbox.  Instead, send replies to the contact person(s) listed below.

DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO:
Liz Compton
mailto:comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
(850) 488-3022