Area News Headlines
These news headlines brought to you by these fine sponsors:
Mid-Michigan Mosquito Control Efforts Begin This Week
Russ Survance
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:49:18 EDT
 |
click on the picture to enlarge
|
Mosquito control operations are getting underway across mid-Michigan, with aerial treatments starting this week in Bay County and Saginaw County.
Officials say low-flying aircraft will begin spreading larvicide over flood-prone wooded areas starting Wednesday in Bay County and Thursday in Saginaw County. The treatments are expected to continue for about a week to ten days, depending on weather conditions like wind, rain, and temperature.
The goal is to target mosquito larvae early in the season, when populations begin to surge due to spring flooding. Crews will operate daily from early morning through the evening out of regional airports in Bay City and Buena Vista Township.
Health officials emphasize this is a critical step in reducing the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses, which are reported in the region each year. These include West Nile Virus and Jamestown Canyon Virus - both transmitted through infected mosquito bites.
In a recent development, authorities in Saginaw County also confirmed the presence of the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito for the first time. This species is known globally for spreading diseases like dengue and Zika, though those illnesses remain rare in Michigan.
Residents are encouraged to take additional precautions at home by eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can breed. That includes emptying containers like bird baths, clearing clogged gutters, and properly disposing of old tires.
Officials say combining aerial treatment with public awareness is the most effective way to limit mosquito populations heading into the summer months.
