Are Mosquitoes Bad in Key West?
WouterDuring the past two years, Key West has suffered a dengue outbreak. This virus, which can cause pain and fever, is spread by the mosquito. It can also carry the Zika virus.
There are many questions about how to keep yourself safe from the disease. The best way to avoid getting infected is to cover up at dusk and wear long pants. It’s also important to stock ponds with minnows.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 5 percent of the Key West population has been exposed to the virus within the past three months. The agency also estimates that if an epidemic were to break out in the Florida Keys, it would result in up to 100,000 dengue infections.
The CDC estimates that the dengue outbreak in the Keys may have come from people traveling on cruise ships or airplanes. The CDC also says that it is possible that someone who has been infected could have passed the virus on to local mosquitoes.
The mosquito control district has been working to control Aedes aegypti in the Florida Keys. During the 2009-2010 outbreak, the district used dengue traps. These traps were set in four different locations. The traps were chosen because they had been reported to have high populations of Aegypti in the past.
Aegypti feed on human blood, and they can carry many different viruses. They are known to carry chikungunya, yellow fever, and the Zika virus. They are also known to lay their eggs in standing water.
