Mosquito season is here; take precautions outdoors Published May 14, 2010 By Maj. Cheryl Magnuson Public Health Flight commander MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Spring in Florida brings warm, sunny weather and increasing humidity. This year the rainfall has also been abundant. As you may have noticed by all the buzzing and biting, these conditions are prime for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes can be more than a nuisance however; they may carry a variety of disease such as West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Another potentially serious mosquitoborne disease, Dengue virus, has also recently been reported in Key West. Symptoms of these illnesses may include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and confusion. Throughout the year, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) works with partner agencies, including the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, mosquito control agencies and state universities, to monitor for the presence of diseases carried by mosquitoes. As part of this combined effort, Hillsborough county surveillance has recently detected WNV in the local mosquito population, primarily in the eastern and southern portions of the county. Fortunately no human cases have been reported yet but it may just be a matter of time. Since WNV was first identified in Florida in 2001, over 200 human cases have been confirmed including 12 deaths, half of which occurred during the peak year of 2003. The Florida Department of Health and your local public health flight emphasize the importance of protection against diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Taking a few simple steps can drastically reduce the chances of contracting a mosquito-borne illness.