Lake County Mosquito & Aquatic Plant Management installs new sprayers to combat mosquitoes

To help better fight disease-carrying mosquitoes, Lake County Mosquito & Aquatic Plant Management has installed four new, more efficient low pressure spray systems in their trucks.

The Guardian 95 ES is an ultra-low volume sprayer, designed by a single manufacturer and perfectly fit the county’s current, or any future, vehicles. Because the sprayers have fewer moving parts than the previous system, the equipment requires less maintenance and is expected to have a far longer lifespan.

“The sprayers each have a two-piece machined nozzle that’s resistant to breakage and wear, offering the county years of maintenance-free use,” said Craig Scott, Mosquito & Aquatic Plant Program Manager. “The system’s remote in-cab control monitor allows the operator to manage the system without leaving their seat and gives staff all the information needed to track and analyze our spray program.”

The new equipment is an improvement of the previous high pressure system, which was comprised of a combination of components from several companies that had to be pieced together in order to fit properly. Some of the old sprayers were over 15 years old and in constant need of repair

Mosquito-borne diseases can be transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes, and may be caused by a virus or parasites, according to the Florida Department of Health. Mosquito-borne diseases found in Florida include West Nile virus disease, Eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis, while others, can be brought back to Florida by infected people or animals, such as chikungunya fever, dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, Rift Valley fever and Zika, although there have been no confirmed cases of Zika in Lake County to date.

Mosquito and Aquatic Plant Management asks that residents do their part in decreasing the spread of mosquito-borne viruses by draining standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying, covering bare skin with clothing when outdoors, using mosquito repellent, and covering doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out. To report mosquito activity in your area, call 352-343-9682.