Hillsborough County is ramping up mosquito control operations in response to an ongoing dengue fever outbreak, deploying overnight spray crews and a low-flying helicopter while keeping the added cost inside the county’s existing operating budget.
Ground crews are spraying for mosquitoes across the county in the early morning hours, with operations running until 6 a.m. To reinforce that effort, Hillsborough County has turned to neighboring Pasco County for help, with Pasco’s Mosquito Control District providing aerial spraying support from a low-flying helicopter — a straightforward example of local governments pooling resources rather than waiting on a state or federal response.
What residents can expect
County officials say residents should watch for an orange and charcoal-colored mosquito-management helicopter operating during daylight hours starting at 9:30 a.m. The aircraft will fly at low altitude, generally just above trees and structures where it’s safe to do so, making multiple straight, parallel passes over residential and commercial neighborhoods. Residents can expect repeated passes near individual properties as the helicopter works through its treatment grid, along with noticeable noise from the low-altitude flights and visible application of a liquid mosquito larvicide.
Why the urgency
Health officials say controlling the mosquito population is critical during a dengue outbreak because infected people can spread the virus without realizing they’re carrying it — a mosquito bites an infected person, then passes the virus on to the next person it bites. The illness itself can be brutal: one local dengue patient described intense bone and muscle pain that lingered for months after the initial infection cleared.
Dr. Kartik Cherabuddi of Tampa General Hospital said officials are gaining better control over the mosquito population and expects dengue cases to drop significantly in the coming weeks.
A response that stays within budget
The expanded spraying campaign is estimated to cost about $250,000 in product expenses. County leaders emphasized that the cost will be absorbed within the county’s already-approved operating budget, meaning residents won’t see new taxes, fees or a supplemental spending request tied to the outbreak response.
Residents in Hillsborough County may continue to notice both ground and aerial mosquito spraying in the coming days as crews work to knock down the mosquito population and slow the spread of dengue.
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