Dengue fever is 20 times more prevalent than influenza elsewhere in the world, yet most people in Florida have never heard of it. Unfortunately, that may be changing. This virus, common in South America, has recently been detected in the Florida Keys.

Dengue fever produces symptoms similar to a bad case of the flu and is rarely fatal, however it can be debilitating for up to a week or more. The common denominator in the spread of dengue are two species of mosquitoes, both common in Florida.

Where effective mosquito control is achieved, the disease doesn’t gain a foothold. On the large scale, release of genetically-modified mosquitoes that mate with wild species and produce larvae that are not viable is one method. Around your home, a pest control professional can use misting technology as well as spot applications of pesticides to eliminate nesting mosquitoes and breeding areas.

As a homeowner, taking these additional DIY methods will also reduce the dengue fever threat:

• Mosquitoes need only 1/2-inch of water to successfully breed. Drain all sources of standing water outdoors or freshen regularly with chlorinated household water. This includes bird baths, pet dishes and children’s play pools.
• Make sure rain gutters are draining fully. A blocked gutter can hold gallons of water for days, all it takes for a dengue-carrying mosquito to multiply.
• Keep the lawn cut and bushes trimmed. Mosquitoes need resting areas during daylight and prefer overgrown grass or landscaping.
• Test the swimming pool chemistry and maintain chlorine levels at the recommended level for sanitation. Run the circulation pump regularly to sustain filtration.
• Fill in holes, depressions or other low-lying areas in the yard where water runoff might accumulate after rainy weather.
• Clean up any clutter and refuse.  Old tires, discarded buckets and cans, tarps and the like can all serve as temporary water reservoirs for mosquito breeding.

Haggerty Services offers the Palm Beach and Broward counties area almost 40 years of pest control expertise. For your family’s health and safety, let us reduce the potential of mosquito-borne dengue fever on your property.