Orange County officials are advising the public that aerial mosquito treatments are set to begin this week to prevent the transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in collaboration with Orange County government officials and Orange County Mosquito Control, will spray insecticide over the county beginning on Wednesday, October 23.
The spraying will occur at night, which is when mosquitoes are the most active.
According to officials, the decision to move forward with the aerial spraying is due to flood water left behind after Hurricane Milton. It is also in response to an advisory that was recently issued by the Florida Department of Health in Orange County after a local case of West Nile Virus was reported.
West Nile Virus is mosquito-borne and causes mild to severe illness. The virus, which first reached Florida in 2001, is now considered endemic and tends to peak in the late summer months.
The health department states that most individuals infected with the West Nile Virus experience symptoms that include headaches, pain, fatigue, and fever. Less than 1% of those infected with the virus develop the most severe form of the disease, which may involve meningitis or encephalitis, and can cause irreversible neurological damage, paralysis, coma, or death.
Symptoms of the West Nile Virus typically appear between two and 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. People over the age of 60 and individuals with weakened immune systems may be at an increased risk for severe disease.
In a social media post on Monday, October 21, Orange County officials stated that the aerial spraying is a “common practice across the state” that aims to reduce the number of mosquitoes that can spread viruses.
To report any issues with mosquitoes, residents are encouraged to contact the county’s 311 hotline for assistance.