Pinellas County is moving dengue control to the skies, teaming with Lee County Mosquito Control to conduct aerial treatments in parts of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. The effort comes as the Tampa Bay region reports 351 dengue cases, according to the Florida Department of Health’s October 15 update.
According to St. Pete Catalyst, Pinellas County Public Information Manager Tony Fabrizio said Lee County could deploy up to four helicopters to spray a fine mist of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), a naturally occurring bacterium that kills mosquito larvae. The treatments could begin as early as Friday, with rotational flights scheduled each Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Fabrizio noted that the aerial operation is “very expensive,” but emphasized that Pinellas County’s own helicopters lack the equipment needed for this type of application, prompting the partnership. The low‑altitude flights are designed to reach standing water in tight spaces where mosquito larvae breed, and the bacterium is not harmful to humans, pets, or pollinators.
Since August, Pinellas County has recorded 37 confirmed dengue cases, while the broader Tampa Bay area—covering Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties—has seen the 351 cases reported by the state health department. The county has remained under a local state of emergency since September, allowing officials to expedite mosquito‑control expenditures and potentially seek state reimbursement.
In addition to the aerial work, mosquito‑control crews continue daily truck treatments when weather permits, and additional trucks contracted through Clarke Mosquito Services assist with overnight spraying. County workers are also conducting door‑to‑door outreach in at‑risk neighborhoods to help residents eliminate standing water.
“Department of Health doesn’t release specific areas,” Fabrizio explained, citing HIPAA concerns. He said treatment polygons will include downtown St. Pete, though exact boundaries have not been finalized. Residents can register for neighborhood‑treatment notifications through Alert Pinellas, and more information is available at Pinellas.gov/dengue.
What’s next: The first aerial treatments are slated to begin Friday, with weekly updates on case numbers released each Thursday. County officials will monitor the impact of the aerial and ground operations and adjust treatment zones as needed to protect the health of St. Pete residents.
Sources: stpetecatalyst.com
