ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Mosquito Control will start aerial spraying in several areas of the county Wednesday to try to control the mosquito population, the division announced Monday.

The Alafaya, Apopka, Bithlo, Dr. Phillips, Fort Christmas, Lake Nona and Wedgefield areas have been targeted after West Nile Virus activity was detected through Orange County Mosquito Control’s Sentinel Chicken program and because of the amount of standing water left behind from Hurricane Milton.

The county seeks to keep mosquito-borne illnesses, like West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Oropouche virus from spreading in the community. 

Spraying will take place after sunset and into the night because that is when mosquitos are most active, officials said. 

“This safe and effective practice, used worldwide, involves spraying a very small amount of EPA-approved insecticide over designated areas at night,” said Steve Harrison, division manager for Orange County Mosquito Control. “This method targets mosquitoes while minimizing the impact on other insects and the environment.”

Aerial spraying is a standard collaborative mosquito mitigation procedure between the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Orange County Government, Orange County Mosquito Control and third-party vendors contracted by FDACS. Airplanes or helicopters will be used to treat the county to kill mosquito larvae and adult mosquitoes.

Residents can call Orange County’s 311 hotline to report mosquito issues at their homes or within their communities.