Broward spraying intensely after Hurricane Dorian

Could dangerous, virus-carrying mosquitoes have blown into Broward County from the winds of Hurricane Dorian?

Possibly, and the county isn’t taking any chances. As Dorian moved on a northward track, Broward County stepped up its effort to spray for mosquitoes and larvae. Getting the population under control is particularly important with people getting mosquitoborne illnesses in counties to the north and south.

In August, the third locally transmitted case of dengue fever this year was confirmed in Miami-Dade County. Dengue causes high fever, muscle and joint pain, pain behind the eyes, vomiting and fatigue.

In July, cases of the the West Nile virus were confirmed in Palm Beach County through its early warning system that relies on blood samples from chickens. More concerning, one of the most dangerous but rare mosquito-borne diseases has been reported in Orange County. The Eastern equine encephalitis virus is capable of causing severe brain damage that can kill up to a third of its human victims. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for the brain-infecting virus available.

While mosquitoes are not swarming Broward County at this time, “in a week they will get bad,” said Anh Ton, director of Broward County’s Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division, which oversees mosquito control.

“We are at more risk now after the storm,” Ton said. “Mosquitoes are weak flyers but they can be blown by the wind. With standing water higher, there is an additional chance of breeding.”

Broward began spraying from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday night for adult mosquitoes throughout the county and will do so for the next two weeks. Crews also will spray mosquito larvae during daytime hours “to keep them from breeding to adults.” Next week, mosquito control will spray the larvae from the streets towards backyards and set additional traps.

“With aggressive treatment we can keep the mosquito population down,” Ton said.

To mitigate the risk of mosquito bites, the Department of Health recommends using repellents with DEET or Picardin and draining any standing water from around the home. Health officials also advise making sure windows and doors are screened properly and when outside, wearing light weight long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks — especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Ton said Broward residents who experience a mosquito problem can call 3-1-1 and request a team come out to their site.

Over the last three years, Miami-Dade and Broward counties have poured millions into combating the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary carrier of Zika disease. Miami became the first city in the continental United States to report a local outbreak of Zika in summer 2016, but the county has not reported a locally transmitted infection since 2017.

RICK BOWMER/AP Broward County is stepping up its efforts to spray for mosquitos that may populate in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.