By Cindy Mulla, Public Relations/Education, Beach Mosquito Control District
Today, Florida is one of our nation’s most popular states for visitors and residents due to its year-round outdoor lifestyle and desired vacation spots. It is a leading global tourism magnet, sought after as both a national and international tourist holiday getaway location. In addition, Florida is a perfect gateway for travelers to other subtropical paradise destinations abroad. Unquestionably, tourism is still the catalyst for Florida’s continuous economic growth. Except, this was not always the case.
Historically, Florida was not appealing to developers or travelers due to the unbearably intense, sultry weather, untamed, dangerous wilderness, and massive mosquito presence, which plagued the state with mosquito-borne disease. For over a century, mosquito-driven illnesses, malaria, dengue, and yellow fever caused large epidemics that massacred the pioneer populations and early economic growth of Florida. Not until the late 1890s was it medically determined that mosquitoes were vectors of disease. In 1889, Dr. Joseph Yates Porter, Florida’s very first native-born physician from Key West, became our state’s first public health officer. During his pioneering years of public health service (1889-1917), he restructured early Public Health by improving the state’s operational response protocol for quarantine, epidemic response and revamping the state’s sanitation operations.
The Florida Anti-Mosquito Control Association was established in 1922. This group of civic leaders, entomologists and health officials, took their concerns to the state’s legislature for approval of the establishment of mosquito control programs throughout the state to combat the transmission of mosquito-borne disease. The legislative formation of mosquito control programs and building public awareness began. Today, this organization is known as the Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA). Currently, Florida has sixty-five approved and established mosquito control programs regulated by the Florida Department of Consumer Services (FDACS) and governed by Florida Statute 388, commonly referred to as the Mosquito Control Law and Section 5E-13.036 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC). These laws are in place to ensure that consistent procedures are in place and performed correctly while protecting the integrity of the environment’s ecology, including all lands and waterways. Also, to guarantee all programs, including their staff, follow pesticide and Public Health Pest Control license certification requirements regulated by FDACS, and continue to maintain the prerequisites of continuing education units.
What is mosquito control? It is the monitoring and suppressive management of mosquito populations at a tolerable level while reducing the transmission of mosquito-borne disease to both humans, livestock, and domestic pets. Mosquito control practices are based on the science of Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) strategies that include a thorough understanding of mosquito biology and the area’s environment while promoting sound ecological practices.
Mosquito control consists of surveillance, source reduction, larval control, adult control (including biological control measures), and public education/outreach programs.
Surveillance is key to a successful abatement program. Before anything else, you need to know the local mosquito population and the potential risk of disease. To this end, there are scheduled mosquito trapping sessions, with identification and testing of mosquitoes or sentinel flock samples for viral activity prior to disease outbreak.
Source Reduction: The locating and physical elimination of the environment where mosquitoes will deposit their eggs. This includes removing standing water by removing the source (Dumping out or removing all items that contain standing water), aquatic vegetation management, and treatment of specific standing bodies of water.
Larval Control: The application of registered biological control larvicide products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that target and kill the immature aquatic larval stage of mosquitoes before they can fly. Products used can be either a naturally occurring soil bacterium or a growth regulator that will only target mosquito larvae. An extremely popular, cost-effective method is the placement of mosquito fish as a recurring control method. Once in place, they maintain themselves and continue to devour larvae before maturing into adult mosquitoes.
Adult Control (Biological or Chemical): the biological control release of a specific species of sterile irradiated male mosquitoes {Sterile Insect Technology (SIT)} to prevent viable eggs from developing into adults, therefore decreasing populations of unwanted mosquito vectors of disease. The last resort is the use of EPA-registered products when surveillance reports a high threshold of pestiferous populations or a definite threat of disease. Spray mission application treatments are by ground/ truck or aerial missions.
How are these programs funded? These programs are taxpayer-funded. Without the support of citizens, the quality of mosquito control and life as we know it today in Florida would not exist. Without it, Florida’s public health and economy would suffer tremendously. We are grateful for your support and encourage you to contact your local mosquito control district to assist you with any unwanted mosquito problems. If you reside in the Panama City Beach area, place your service request with Beach Mosquito Control District online at www.pcbechmosquito.org or call (850) 233-5030. Remember, there is no additional cost to contact for our service; your tax dollars cover it.
Is mosquito control still important today?
Yes, mosquito-borne disease is global, still exists and is monitored very closely for both domestic and imported transmission cases. Due to the efficiency of modern transportation, the gateway to other countries is very accessible to both importers and travelers. Easily, you can be in a different country in just hours of travel time, and if unaware of the country’s public health or do not take precautionary measures, you could bring back an unwanted souvenir as an unexpected illness. Sometimes illness symptoms remain undetected until you return home and then have the capability to cause illness transmission to others. It is also possible for mosquitoes to sneak on board a form of transportation and arrive in another country and successfully establish their species. Historically, this is how mosquito-borne illnesses like yellow fever arrived in our nation during its infancy. Imported vectors and travel-related diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya, malaria, and zika are still on the radar. Also, domestic mosquito-borne illness is present in areas of our nation too (West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis). Remember to protect yourself by wearing a registered Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) repellent when outdoors. You do not want one bite to impact you for life!
In observance of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 21-27, we would like to remember and thank the pioneers of mosquito control for understanding the importance of public health and mosquito control. Also, to recognize and thank everyone who works daily to protect us from the bite of the female mosquito! However, we still need your help too! Please, do not let standing water accumulate on your property. Practice thorough source reduction and remember to… Drain or The Mosquitoes Will Remain!
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