Aerial Spraying Continues In Dade Amid Zika Fight
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Aerial spraying to control the spread of Zika in Miami-Dade County was completed Saturday morning.
Aircraft flew lower than most residents were accustomed to, spraying in the area of NW 5th Avenue to the west, US 1 to the east, NW/NE 38th Street to the north and NW/NE 20th Street to the south.
The larvacide sprayed is meant to kill mosquito larvae in an effort to control the mosquito population that could potentially spread the virus, according to Miami-Dade Mosquito Control.
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The insecticide used is VectoBac WDG. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti.
Mosquito control reassured the public the insecticide is safe, issuing a statement saying in part,
"Bti is a naturally occurring bacteria that produces toxins that specifically target only the larvae of mosquitoes, blackflies, and fungus gnats. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deemed that Bti does not pose health risks to humans."
Saturday's spraying was just one of various spraying missions that happened throughout the week as the number of locally acquired cases hit 16 on Friday.
An adult mosquito control flight is scheduled for Sunday morning over a ten-square-mile area. Residents who want to report a mosquito nuisance can call 311.
Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.
