Rain brings mosquitoes; concern for West Nile Virus

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla - Gary Goode with Palm Beach County Mosquito Control is works to collect and examine mosquitoes, particularly what is known as the 'Summer Mosquito'- a bug that is carrying West Nile Virus.

"They are starting to creep up on the East side of Palm Beach County now," Goode said.

Although no human cases have been confirmed in Palm Beach County, a horse contracted the potentially deadly virus this month.

Mike Andrete's family works sugar cane fields and has reason to be concerned.

"It gets pretty bad out here with all the rain and the flooding in the fields and the canals," Andrete said.

The constant dumping of rain last week flooded the sugar cane fields in the Western part of the county as well as miles of ditches in the Eastern areas. 

They had places that had been dry for months giving mosquitoes an ideal place to lay their eggs. The rain now forces those eggs to hatch.

"They are basically dehydrated mosquitoes waiting to be sprouted by the rains," Goode said.

Mosquito control is putting traps around the county.  The combination of dry ice emitting carbon dioxide and a battery that radiates heat fools the mosquitoes into thinking the trap is a person.

Goode says Mosquito Control won't know the extent of the danger until after the rain stops and the bugs start hatching their eggs.  Mosquito control also can't begin spraying until after the rain stops.

Fortunately it appears we are heading into the 'Dry Season' earlier this year.