Pinellas County increases mosquito control in Palm Harbor following Department of Health-Pinellas Dengue Fever alert

August 11, 2026 - 18:03

Pinellas County mosquito control teams are increasing their spraying and trapping efforts in the Palm Harbor area after state health officials issued a dengue fever alert for the region. The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County reported a locally acquired case of the virus, which is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

County crews are now focusing on residential neighborhoods, parks, and drainage areas where standing water tends to collect. They are also going door to door in some blocks to check for containers, old tires, and other items that might hold water long enough for mosquitoes to breed. The goal is to knock down the adult mosquito population and remove the places where they lay eggs.

Health officials say the risk to the general public remains low, but they are asking everyone in the area to take basic precautions. That includes wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk, using an EPA-registered repellent, and making sure window screens are intact. Residents are also urged to dump any standing water around their homes at least once a week, including in plant saucers, pet bowls, and kiddie pools.

Dengue fever symptoms usually appear within a week of a bite and can include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle aches, and a rash. Most people recover at home, but severe cases can require hospital care. Anyone with those symptoms should see a doctor and mention recent mosquito exposure.

The county says it will keep up the increased spraying for at least another two weeks, depending on weather and mosquito counts. They also remind people that fogging only kills adult mosquitoes on contact, so eliminating breeding sites is just as important. For help with a mosquito problem on private property, residents can call the county's mosquito control hotline.