Miami-Dade Fights War Against Mosquitoes With Aerial Spraying
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – South Florida is under attack from mosquitoes but Miami-Dade County is about to fire the next shot in the war against these pesky critters.
In an effort to stop the mosquito threat from growing, Miami-Dade County Public Works and Waste Management Department (PWWM) will begin aerial mosquito control spraying Friday evening.
The pesticide being used is called Dibrom (also known as Naled), which is certified for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Florida.
The aerial mosquito control flight will take place during the final two daylight hours prior to sunset, and up to 30 minutes after sunset, weather permitting over Homestead, Florida City, the Redlands, Kendall, Miami Lakes, areas east of U.S. 1, Virginia Key, Crandon Park and Key Biscayne.
The county is trying to control the mosquito population not only because they are annoying but because mosquito-borne illnesses are surfacing including dengue, West Nile virus and Chikungunya.
Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area.
Individuals with known allergic reactions should remain indoors.
If you have questions about the aerial spraying, or complaints about mosquitoes, call the County's Answer Center at 3-1-1.
Remember, you can also help reduce the mosquito population by removing standing water from around your home.
Drain and cover:
- Drain all standing water around the yard because mosquitoes need only a small amount of water to breed.
- Empty cans, buckets, garbage cans, house gutters, flower pots, bottles, toys, plastic "kiddie" pools, lids, old tires, pool covers, barrels and any other container or item that holds water.
- If you have a boat, turn it upside down if it's small enough, or cover it if it's too large to turn. Just make sure the boat cover doesn't also hold water.
- If you have a swimming pool, make sure to maintain it properly and run the pump every so often as mosquitoes do not like to breed in moving water.
- Twice a week, make sure to empty or rinse out plants that hold water (such as bromeliads), pets' water bowls and birdbaths.
- Make sure your doors and windows are covered with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
- Protect infants with mosquito netting.
- Avoid going outside when mosquitoes are most active, at dawn and dusk.
- If you do have to be outside, cover yourself up by wearing loose, light-colored clothing (preferably long pants and long sleeves), shoes and socks.
- Use a repellent when you go outside. Follow the directions on the label.
- The best repellents use DEET or picaridin.
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