Jacksonville's Mosquito Control Division works closely with the Duval County Health Department to monitor for mosquito-borne encephalitis. Past surveillance has included testing for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE). As of 2000, the testing has also included testing for the presence of West Nile Virus (WN).

The primary form of surveillance are sentinel chickens.  Flocks are placed around the county from mid-May to late November or December to track the presence of the viruses in Jacksonville. The surveillance program also includes submitting mosquito samples to the state lab for analysis. 

If surveillance has shown the presence of EEE, SLE, or WN in an area, inspectors look for a possible mosquito breeding source. Once found, it is either eliminated or treated.  Increased treatments for the presence of adult mosquitoes are also performed in conjunction with the inspections.  Mosquito Control's goal is to minimize the potential for virus transmission by decreasing the adult flying mosquito population. 

The Florida Department of Health recommends that the public use the "5 D's" for personal mosquito protection. The "5 D's" for prevention are:

     * Dusk and Dawn: Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking a blood meal (for many species this is during the dusk and dawn hours).

     * Dress: Wear clothing that covers the skin.

     * DEET: Use mosquito repellents including DEET  (N,N diethyl-m-toluamide). Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for proper use.

     * Drainage: Check your home to rid it of standing water in which mosquitoes can lay their eggs. 

(Refer to the Avoiding Mosquitoes page for more tips on how to avoid, repel, and eliminate mosquitoes around your home).

The following brochure provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding West Nile, Eastern Equine and St. Louis Encephalitis. It is printable using Adobe Acrobat Reader, available for free from Adobe.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Encephalitis (PDF 33K)   

For more information on WN, EEE, or SLE, refer to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the Florida Department of Health.