The Importance of Disease Monitoring Throughout the State and Country

By Patrick Linn, MS, MSHAPI
Executive Director, Collier Mosquito Control District

The Collier Mosquito Control District aims to suppress disease-carrying and nuisance mosquito populations using safe and cost-effective methods. Tracking mosquito-borne illnesses locally, statewide, and globally is crucial for community health. While Collier County has had one travel-related Dengue case, Florida is seeing increased Dengue cases compared to last year. Through June, Florida reported 244 travel-related and 10 local Dengue cases, highlighting a significant rise in cases compared to the previous year.

The majority of Dengue cases in Florida come from Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, both of which border Collier County and are hubs for international travel. This highlights the importance of monitoring the state of mosquito-borne diseases beyond the District’s boundaries in order to stay prepared should we find disease in our area.

In addition to Dengue, the World Health Organization has issued an advisory about a new mosquito-borne virus that has been found in Cuba. The Oropouche virus, which has similar symptoms in humans to Dengue, can be transmitted by mosquitoes that we have here in Collier County.

This virus was first found in South America with the transmission happening between sloths and humans via mosquito bites. While the virus has not yet been found in the United States, our proximity to the Caribbean and the high numbers of visitors from that region to south Florida means it is something we must keep our eyes on.

Disease monitoring is a vital component to protecting our community through mosquito control. On top of monitoring what health agencies are seeing throughout the state and the world, the District tests tens of thousands of mosquitoes weekly in our lab. If disease is found, we promptly notify the Florida Department of Health and schedule treatments and increased testing in the areas around where the disease-carrying mosquito was trapped.

As we approach the peak of the rainy season, we typically see more mosquitoes that breed in small areas of contained water, such as buckets, tires and any other item that can hold water. Individuals can do their part to protect safety and comfort by emptying these containers and any other standing water they are able to on their property. The District also provides other resources, such as free mosquitofish, which can help people keep their property safe. These resources can be accessed by visiting our website at www.cmcd.org.

Anyone who would like to learn more about how we monitor for diseases or would like a tour of the lab and other facilities, can request a tour by emailing us at info@cmcd.org.