Mosquito Control To Spray Parts Of Broward In Zika Fight
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- Mosquito Control crews will be spraying parts of Broward County Thursday - something meant to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.
Broward officials - calling it a preventative measure - scheduled the spraying between 6 a.m. and noon. The plane will be flying at 100 feet to spray for mosquito larvae. They'll be using a larvicide called VectoBac WDG which they described as "a naturally occurring, biodegradable bacterial mosquito larvicide which is not harmful to humans, pets, aquatic habitats or environmentally sensitive areas."
In Fort Lauderdale, the area is bounded by:
-SW 6th Street to the north
-SW 24th Street (Marina Blvd) to the south
-S Andrews Ave to the east
-SW 9th Ave to the west
See map
In Davie, the spray boundaries are:
-SW 9th Court to the north
-SW 28th Court to the south
-S Flamingo Road to the east
-SW 133rd Ave to the west
**The area does not include SW 20th St to SW 28th Ct between SW 127th Ave and SW 124th Ave**
See map
And in Hallandale Beach, the area is bounded by:
-Pembroke Road to the north
-SW 11th Street to the south
-Dixie Highway to the east
-SW 8th Ave to the west
See map
Broward officials say the areas were chosen based on a number of factors including the one non-travel related confirmed case in Broward County, population density and the amount of women of child-bearing age in the community.
As a precaution, residents with breathing problems are advised to remain indoors.
The Florida Department of Health says Broward is not an active local transmission zone.
Zika 101: Prevent Spread By Protecting Yourself
Meantime, more than 40 cases of non-travel related Zika have been found in the Miami area, and at least one infection was discovered in Pinellas County near Tampa.
Despite the preventive spray, health officials say residents are the first line of defense when it comes to combating the spread of the virus.
Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.
