TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Leon County has been fighting mosquitoes even before Zika appeared in the county, but mosquito control technicians work even harder now after two travel-related cases of the virus were confirmed in the county.
Each technician goes to about a dozen homes everyday to check for breeding in standing water. They use a technique known as "hand fogging" that has been requested more often lately, according to Mosquito Control.
"They walk around, and it puts out a mist that they'll spray around the house and bushes, and that will kill the mosquitoes that are flying," said Glen Pourciau, a stormwater superintendent.
To control the mosquito population, the county has used chickens to see whether or not local mosquitoes carry viruses like Zika. The county has eight sites for the chickens -- and six chickens per site.
"These chickens are bled weekly, and we take the blood to the office and spin it in a servo, and then we ship it to Tampa to the labs," said Eddie Phillips with Leon County Mosquito Control.
The county has also trapped mosquitoes for testing. Using dry ice, the carbon dioxide attracts mosquitoes, which then get sucked into a container that is shipped to a state lab.
Mosquito Control has been working six days a week recently to respond to concerned calls about local transmission.
"Everybody needs to help out and do their part and check around their yard for containers and around businesses also," Pourciau said.
To request a service, call Leon County Mosquito Control office at (850) 606-1400. You can submit a request online here.
Find more information on Leon County Mosquito Control here.
