PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – The mosquito population in Putnam County should take a big hit Friday night after the scheduled aerial mosquito spraying.
The mosquitoes have really multiplied in East Palatka since Hurricane Irma swept through.
Mosquito Control representatives said that because of the storm, mosquitoes are hatching by the billions.
Planes will fly over eight zones in the county Friday and Saturday, spraying from the air, because officials said what's done on the ground just isn't enough anymore.
Spraying was supposed to happen Thursday, but officials with the company that flies the planes said they were having technical difficulties and would have to postpone.
The spraying will take place from dusk to dawn, about 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., with two twin-engine turboprop planes spraying Naled, a neurotoxin approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mosquito Control officials said the chemical is similar to what's used to kill roaches.
Residents have complained about the county spraying chemicals to combat the mosquitoes, especially since the European Union has banned the insecticide, but Mosquito Control officials said mosquito-borne illnesses are the real danger to residents.
Officials said the pesticide is effective enough to kill the insects in the air and will not accumulate on the ground.
County officials said they will test traps after the spraying is done to measure its effectiveness.
County officials said they will take more samples at a later date to see how effective the spraying was, and they suspect they will not have to spray again until the next hurricane passes through