Experts warn of increased pest activity in Florida due to El Niño, which is expected to bring hotter and wetter weather to the state. Bo Butler, owner of Panther Pest Control, said his team is already seeing a large amount of pest activity, including an increase in interest roaches, termites, and mosquitoes.
Mosquito-Borne Diseases a Concern
According to the University of Florida, mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue fever. The Florida Department of Health has reported 33 travel-associated dengue cases this year. Eric Caragata, a researcher at the University of Florida, explained how rainwater creates ideal habitats for mosquito eggs, saying, “Mosquitoes will lay their eggs in containers that collect rainwater. So if it’s raining more, they’re going to have more potential habitats for mosquitoes to lay eggs.”
Caragata also noted that El Niño could intensify the situation, saying, “El Niño might make that more extreme.” To protect against mosquito bites, experts recommend avoiding outdoor activity during peak hours at dawn and dusk, wearing loose, light-colored clothing, using spray repellents with DEET, draining standing water where mosquitoes can breed, and ensuring doors and windows are properly screened.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
