Aerial mosquito spraying continues in effort to prevent spread of Zika virus

Woman vacationing in Miami's Wynwood area unaware of threat

MIAMI – Aerial spraying to kill mosquitoes in Miami continued Saturday and will resume Sunday in an effort to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

A plane loaded with larvicide took off from Miami Executive Airport early Saturday to spray Miami's Wynwood neighborhood, where Florida Department of Health officials have confirmed 16 locally acquired cases of the mosquito-borne virus.

The area of concentration is between Northwest Fifth Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard to Northwest 38th and Northwest 20th streets.

Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control said the plane flew lower than area residents may be accustomed to -- sometimes as low as 100 feet above the ground -- to prevent potential wind currents from carrying the insecticide away.

Luciana Cuglasca, who is five months' pregnant, learned that she and her husband have been vacationing in the so-called Zika zone.

When asked if she was worried about walking the streets of Wynwood, she answered, "Now, yes."

Health officials believe the spraying has been effective. Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday that a 10-block area in the northwestern corner of the Zika zone has been cleared.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.