Disease Bearing Mosquitoes

Dengue is a human disease caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. It occurs commonly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, predominantly in urban and suburban areas. It affects 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 persons annually. The major carriers of dengue is the yellow fever mosquito; Aedes aegypti, also the Asian tiger mosquito. Both mosquitoes reside in the Tampa Bay area.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a virus disease transmitted to horses and humans by mosquitoes. Birds are the carrier (vector) source for the infection mosquitoes. The principal mosquito carrier of the avian population is the mosquito Culiseta melanura. The Gulf Coast of Florida is an area where this mosquito resides.

West Nile virus is a disease that can affect both humans as well as horses. Most humans who are infected with West Nile do not develop clinical illness and only 20% of infected humans exhibit symptoms. Other viruses like equine encephalitis are carried by birds which are then bitten by mosquitoes that transmit the virus to humans. The mosquito transmitting West Nile in Florida is the Culex nigripalpus. This mosquito is primarily a freshwater mosquito, she lays her eggs in catch basins, sewers, cisterns, and temporary flooded pools. The usual feeding time is immediately following sunset or just before sunrise. She is also a resident of Florida and the Tampa Bay area.

St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) appeared in Florida 1959, it still infects people throughout the state on an annual basis. Recurrence and severity of St. Louis encephalitis in humans is strongly dependent upon age primarily affecting those above age 60 and under age 10. The virus initially starts with wild birds and is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that transmit St. Louis encephalitis also transmits West Nile virus, the Culex nigripalpus.

The primary source for control of these disease carrying mosquitoes is adult spraying. Will investigate opportunities to control these mosquitoes on your property later on this website.