PASCO COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL
Dengue is a regional concern: How Pasco residents can help.
Dengue fever is often associated with tropical destinations, but Florida is experiencing a significant outbreak of locally acquired dengue, bringing this public health concern close to home.
As of October 10, 2026, 368 locally acquired cases have been reported statewide, including 310 in Hillsborough County, 37 in Pinellas, and four in Pasco.
Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties have declared states of local emergency in response to this evolving situation.
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti. This species has a close association to humans and thrives residential and urban environments, laying eggs in water-holding containers around homes and businesses.
Unlike many mosquitoes associated with wetlands and large bodies of water, Aedes aegypti utilizes small amounts of standing water found in items around homes and businesses and commonly bites during daylight hours.
Thousands of residents travel throughout the Tampa Bay region daily for work, school, healthcare, and recreation. Because dengue transmission does not stop at county boundaries, this regional public health concern requires
coordinated action. Reducing Aedes aegypti mosquito populations in neighboring communities your own back yard helps limit transmission opportunities and protects the broader community.
The Pasco County Mosquito Control District (PCMCD) has intensified its response through enhanced mosquito surveillance and increased control measures specifically targeting Aedes aegypti. Efforts include monitoring mosquito populations, evaluating transmission risks, and implementing targeted treatments to reduce mosquito populations and limit disease spread.
PCMCD is collaborating with public health agencies and regional mosquito control partners to strengthen these efforts.
As the situation evolves, continued surveillance, timely information sharing, and adaptable control strategies remain essential.
Residents are among our most important partners in this effort. Mosquito control cannot be accomplished by government agencies alone.
At least once a week — and especially after rainfall—inspect your property and dump out, drain, cover, or remove anything that can collect water.
Check flowerpots, buckets, toys, tires, pet dishes, birdbaths, tarps, clogged gutters, and other containers. Even something as small as a bottle cap full of standing water can produce mosquitoes.
Protect yourself and your family by using a U.S. EPA-registered insect repellent according to its label, wearing loose-fitting, long sleeves and pants when outside, and keeping doors doors and window screens in good repair.
Because Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can bite during the day, protection is important throughout the day and night.
Fight the Bite. Inspect your property weekly, eliminate mosquito production sites, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Together, we can reduce mosquito populations, help limit dengue transmission, and protect our region.
For more information, visit pascomosquito.org or call 727-376-4568.
