A little more than 100 species of mosquitoes are known transmitters of diseases that concern human health. When a female mosquito is ready to lay eggs, she needs protein to help those eggs develop. To do this, the female seeks out blood for her source of protein. 

When taking a blood meal, they use specialized mouthparts called a proboscis. One of the inner parts of the proboscis injects saliva into their prey. The saliva contains proteins to help mask pain, and has anticoagulating properties which keep the blood moving freely.

When a mosquito drinks blood from an infected animal or person, it can pick up a virus or parasite. Some of these can survive inside the mosquito and move from its stomach to its salivary glands where saliva is made. The next time the mosquito bites another animal or person, its saliva enters the bloodstream and can pass the infection to the new host.

Not every mosquito transmits disease, and not every kind of mosquito can pass on the same ones. This is why identification of local mosquitoes is an important step in protecting public health. 

Travel can increase your risk, depending on your destination. When traveling to areas where mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent, please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from mosquito bites. We may not have specific diseases in Sarasota County, but we do have the species of mosquitoes that can carry them.

How does travel impact risk?

If a person travels to an area and becomes infected by a mosquito, they can bring that infection back with them and a local mosquito can pick up disease from them. This can cause local infection, and - in worse case scenarios - become established in the local population. 

Several cases of mosquito-borne diseases are reported each year in Florida, imported from regions such as the Caribbean, Central & South America and Asia. It is recommended to visit the CDC Travelers' Health Notices page to see if you may be at greater risk for disease when traveling. 

Please remember to follow protective guidelines when traveling, not just to protect yourself, but your family and community on your return home.

Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats can get an infection from mosquitoes called heartworm. If preventative medicine is not taken, a parasitic roundworm can develop in the arteries of the heart causing blockage.

 Horses 

There are several mosquito-transmitted diseases that are potentially fatal for horses. Veterinarians can provide the best advice for horse caretakers and vaccines are available for some of these viruses. Horses are susceptible to: 

• Eastern Equine Encephalitis
• Western Equine Encephalitis
• St. Louis Encephalitis
• Venezuelan Encephalitis

Please note that humans can also contract the viruses listed above. Please visit The Florida Department of Health for information on animal contact and human health.

Mosquito peak season occurs between May through October, when there is generally more rain and warmer temperatures. During this peak season, staff use traps placed at regular monitoring sites and those placed in response to customer calls to see three main items:

1. Are mosquitoes present at all?
2. If so, what kinds?
3. And how many were caught within the trap run-time? 

This data provides a good oversight of the mosquito population average, and allows us to identify if any mosquitoes caught are of human health concern. The regular monitoring sites are checked every other day, and traps placed for customers are collected the day following their placement. 

Outside of peak season, monitoring continues but on a slightly smaller scale, but will increase in the event of a disease occurrence or an unseasonal weather event. 

You may sign-up for our notifications here: ALERT Sarasota

In addition to monitoring adult mosquito populations, Mosquito Management also looks for the presence of viruses in the mosquito population. This is completed in a technical manner:

• Specialized traps are set to collect adult, flying mosquitoes. The traps target different species of mosquito known to transmit diseases, breeding site preferences and particular geographic areas. 
• Collected mosquitoes are tested for the presence of virus on-site in our molecular laboratory.
• If a mosquito is found to be positive for a virus, Mosquito Management has an immediate response plan. More traps are set in the area and potential breeding sites are investigated.

To view the Florida Department of Health's weekly reports on mosquito-borne disease (and other arbovirus) surveillance, please visit the  Weekly Arbovirus Reports.

Mosquito Management Services monitors the potential risk of West Nile Virus with The Florida Department of Health by using sentinel chickens. Visit our Sentinel Chickens page for more information.

The threat of mosquito-borne illness prompts action when it is suspected or confirmed. 

• Because Mosquito Management conducts in-house testing for some mosquito-borne illnesses, action can be taken swiftly when it is detected in the local mosquito population.
  • This includes increased larval prevention, adulticide treatments, and public outreach. In areas where infected mosquitoes are found, adult mosquito population monitoring increases, and disease testing continues in-house and with support from the Florida Department of Health. 

• If a human case is reported, those same efforts continue. The Florida Department of Health works with the patient to gather data regarding any recent travel, which could indicate the virus was contracted elsewhere.
  • Even if the person declares that they travelled during a time that aligns with the timeline of the virus' onset, Mosquito Management continues to monitor the local mosquito population. 
  • Not every mosquito is capable of transmitting every disease, so it's important to look for the species that are of human health concern.