Aggressive Salt Marsh Mosquitoes Overwhelm Broward County Residents and Control Efforts

Unprecedented Mosquito Infestation

• 🦟 Salt marsh mosquitoes from the Everglades have invaded western Broward County, leading to an overwhelming number of calls for mosquito control.
• 💡 The recent rains have caused a massive hatching of these mosquito eggs, resulting in a swarm described as coming "with a vengeance."
• 🎯 These mosquitoes are particularly aggressive, preferring human blood over animal blood and actively pursuing people.

Overwhelmed Mosquito Control Services

• 📈 Broward County's mosquito control department has seen a dramatic surge in service requests, jumping from 150 to 1,200 requests per day.
• ⚠️ There is a significant backlog of approximately 6,000 requests that workers are struggling to address.
• 🛠️ Extra crews have been deployed for both daytime house calls and nighttime truck spraying to combat the infestation.

Aerial Spraying and Prevention Measures

• ✈️ Broward County is conducting aerial spraying over western Broward areas, including Southwest Ranches, Davie, Pembroke Pines, and Weston, from Saturday through Monday between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• 🏠 Residents are advised to continue usual prevention methods like emptying standing water around their homes.
• 🧴 Using repellent with DEET is recommended for personal protection against bites.
• ⚠️ Individuals with sensitivities or breathing difficulties, as well as pet owners, should stay indoors during the aerial spraying hours.