Mosquito Control Ramping Up Zika Efforts On Miami Beach
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) -- Starting this week, Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control will be using new state-of-the-art equipment in the fight to stop the Zika-carrying insects on Miami Beach.
Starting Tuesday at approximately 2 a.m., Buffalo Turbine trucks will be deployed in the various areas of the designated Zika zones, between 8th and 28th Street.
The trucks are said to "provide greater uniformed ground coverage to effectively target breeding areas and reduce the mosquito population," according to the City of Miami Beach's press release. "They do so by applying Baccillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (Bti) -- an environmentally-friendly, organic material."
The bacterium destroys the digestive systems of mosquitoes, fungus gnats and blackfly larvae.
The U.S. EPA says "Bti has no toxicity to people, so it can be applied safely to mosquito habitat without a detrimental impact on food crops or water supplies. In fact, Bti can be used for pest control in organic farming operations."
The city notes that there will be no Naled sprayed from these trucks.
Truck spraying will take place over the next four weeks.
• Late Monday/Early Tuesday: West of Washington Avenue between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.
• Late Tuesday/Early Wednesday: East of Washington Avenue between the hours of 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.