A locally acquired case of West Nile virus has been confirmed in Sarasota County, which means the risk isn’t theoretical anymore. Sarasota County Mosquito Management is responding with one of the most thorough monitoring programs in the country. Crews watch for West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya and malaria, and the county is the only one in the nation actively monitoring for malaria following a 2023 outbreak.
The tools are unusual and effective. Sentinel chickens placed around the county are tested every week, because they develop antibodies but can’t carry the virus, so they clue crews in to disease activity that may impact humans. Mosquitofish eat mosquito larvae, with adults consuming up to about a hundred a day. Population monitoring then directs where control efforts land.
Residents have a role too. Dump standing water in your yard, protect yourself from bites at dawn and dusk, and keep an eye on gutters, plant saucers and pet bowls. Have you found a mosquito breeding spot in your yard this season? Tell us on our Facebook page.
