Osceola County launches aerial spraying to combat dengue fever risk

Osceola County is taking action against a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses, authorizing a multi-day aerial spraying campaign to reduce mosquito populations and limit the spread of dengue fever across Central Florida.The Osceola County Board of County Commissioners authorized Mosquito Control to procure a contractor for countywide aerial spraying following recent heavy rain and an approaching weather front expected to bring additional precipitation to the region. The Florida Department of Health has reported an uptick in locally transmitted mosquito-borne illnesses in the area.If weather prevents spraying, treatments will be rescheduled for alternate dates in October during the same hours. Treatments cannot be performed when it is raining or when winds exceed 10 mph.Virginia Rodriguez, who walks her two dogs daily, said she often deals with them despite using mosquito repellent.“Sometimes when they mow the lawn, it’s like a cloud of mosquitoes,” she said. “When it’s colder, it’s a littl