Polk County Combats Rise Of Mosquito Population With Aerial Spraying

LAKELAND - After recording more than 11 inches of rain from Hurricane Irma, Polk County residents are discovering that flooded areas have produced an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. County officials said they asked the state to conduct aerial spraying to reduce the threat of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.

A state contractor has started spraying in several areas, including North Lakeland, Kathleen, Polk City, Mulberry, Bartow, Lake Wales, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Indian Lake Estates, River Ranch and Davenport.

The number of mosquitoes in Polk County has tripled since Irma, WTSP, 10News reported. “Numbers usually begin to taper off right up to October,” Dr. Carl Boohene, Polk County’s mosquito control manager, told 10News. Instead, the storm has caused a spike.

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Polk County mosquito control said the airplane is spraying a chemical called naled. The chemical was used in Miami to curb the Zika outbreak there, drawing complaints from environmentalists. The insecticide kills bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Boohene told 10News they need the chemical to get the population under control in Polk County, adding that it will have only minor effects, if any, on other wildlife.

Read the full story at WTSP, 10News.

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