Collier Mosquito Control District expansion comes as dengue fever case reported

Reporter: Michelle Alvarez
Published: Updated:
Mosquito
Mosquito Control Collier District looking for larvae in still bodies of water. (CREDIT: WINK News)

A referendum passed during Tuesday’s primary that allows Collier Mosquito Control District to expand its coverage.

Coincidentally, it comes at a time when a case of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, popped up in the county.

The Board of Mosquito Control Commissioners approved the policy for expansion citing a number of reasons and voters agreed.

The Collier Mosquito Control District said in the end, it all comes down to population growth.

“We have so many people moving into areas of Collier County that are not currently covered in the Mosquito Control District. Right now, the Mosquito District is 401 square miles. And when you consider that call, your county is 2,300 square miles. That’s only a small portion of the county that gets protection,” said Robin King, with the Collier Mosquito Control District.

On Thursday, the Florida Department of Health in Collier County announced someone had contracted dengue fever in the area.

With proper treatment, dengue fever will not kill you, but it will make you feel sick for a while.

Symptoms include a headache behind the eyes, a rash, a fever, and muscle and joint aches.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness.

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