Polk County Mosquito Spray Zones: Where Crews Are Spraying After a Local Dengue Case
Polk County Mosquito Control has completed approximately 13 additional sprays from Davenport to Mulberry since the Florida Department of Health in Polk County confirmed a locally acquired dengue case Sept. 24, and the county says more frequent truck and helicopter spraying will continue.
Locally acquired dengue means the person was infected by a mosquito in Polk County, not while traveling outside. The health department’s advisory did not say where in the county the patient lives. The state’s weekly surveillance report through Sept. 19 listed no locally acquired dengue cases in Polk this year.
“DOH-Polk and Polk County Mosquito Control are coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts by inspections, treatment, and outreach,” the advisory said.
Where Mosquito Control Has Sprayed
The county’s online spray log lists 23 completed sprays from Sept. 22 through Oct. 1. Since the dengue advisory, crews have covered Loughman and River Ranch, the Four Corners and U.S. 27 and Interstate 4 area, Davenport and Providence, and West Lakeland, Mulberry, West Poinciana, Solivita and Lake Hatchineha.
Date Area Zone Oct. 1 West Lakeland Not listed Oct. 1 Mulberry 33 Oct. 1 West Poinciana 22A Oct. 1 Solivita 22B Oct. 1 Lake Hatchineha 22C Sept. 30 Davenport 5D Sept. 30 Providence 5C Sept. 30 Davenport 5A Sept. 28 Four Corners 4B Sept. 28 Davenport Not listed Sept. 28 U.S. 27 and I-4 4C Sept. 24 Loughman 5B Sept. 24 River Ranch 38 Sept. 23 Indian Lake Estates and River Ranch Not listed Sept. 23 Four Corners 4A Sept. 23 North Bartow 34A Sept. 23 East Bartow 34C Sept. 23 West Bartow 34B Sept. 23 Cypress Lakes 1 Sept. 22 Skyview 17A Sept. 22 West Winter Haven Not listed Sept. 22 K-Ville 17B Sept. 22 Lake Rosalie 24B
Four areas are noted without a zone number: West Winter Haven, Indian Lake Estates and River Ranch, Davenport on Sept. 28 and West Lakeland. The page does not say whether a spray was done by truck or helicopter. Cypress Lakes, listed earlier for Sept. 22, was sprayed Sept. 23.
As of 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2, the page listed no upcoming sprays.
County Says Spraying Will Increase
“Polk County Mosquito Control will continue with upcoming scheduled mosquito spraying as well as increasing the frequency of ultra-low-volume truck spraying and helicopter spraying across wide areas following the recent reports of local dengue fever cases in Central Florida,” Katelyn Hoverkamp, the county’s public and media relations officer, wrote in a Sept. 29 email to The Citrus Tea News.
Hoverkamp said the spray schedule page is updated daily. Scheduled dates depend on the weather, and zones may be rescheduled if storms move in.
The county does not offer a sign-up for spray alerts. Hoverkamp said residents should check the spray schedule page and use the county’s Find Your Spray Zone map to look up which zone they live in.
What About Beekeepers?
Permethrin, the county’s primary adult mosquito spray, is highly toxic to bees.
Hoverkamp said the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services gives Mosquito Control a list of registered beekeepers in Polk, and the county uses that list “to determine the locations of beehives throughout the county.” State law requires beekeepers to register their colonies with the department. Beekeepers who have not registered should contact the agency directly, she said.
The Citrus Tea News first asked about beekeeper notice for its Sept. 23 report on the county’s stepped-up spraying, including whether registered beekeepers are contacted before a spray and how much notice they receive. The county’s response did not address either question.
Dengue Across the Region
The state’s surveillance report for Sept. 13 to 19 counted 190 locally acquired dengue cases in Florida this year, 170 of them in Hillsborough County. WUSF reported that Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties declared states of emergency Sept. 23 and 24 to fight the outbreak.
Dengue does not spread from person to person. It spreads only through bites from an infected mosquito. Symptoms show up three to 14 days after infection and resemble the flu: fever, muscle aches, joint pain.
The county’s advice is to spray, drain and cover. Empty standing water from tires, buckets, planters, birdbaths and trash bins, wear long sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn, and use an EPA-registered repellent. To report standing water or request service, call Polk County Mosquito Control at 863-534-7377.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical, veterinary or pest control advice. Consult your doctor or health care provider about dengue symptoms, insect repellents or pesticide exposure, a veterinarian about your pets, and Polk County Mosquito Control or a UF/IFAS Extension agent about protecting your hives. In an emergency, call 911. For a suspected poisoning, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there dengue in Polk County?
Yes. The Florida Department of Health in Polk County confirmed a locally acquired dengue case Sept. 24. The department did not say where in the county the patient lives.
Where is Polk County spraying for mosquitoes?
The county’s spray log lists 23 completed sprays from Sept. 22 through Oct. 1, including Davenport, Four Corners, Bartow, Mulberry, Poinciana and River Ranch. The county says the spray schedule page on its Mosquito Control website is updated daily.
How do I find my mosquito spray zone in Polk County?
Use the Find Your Spray Zone map on the Polk County Mosquito Control website, then check the spray schedule page for that zone. The county does not offer a sign-up for spray alerts.
Are beekeepers notified before mosquito spraying in Polk County?
The county says it uses the state’s list of registered beekeepers to locate hives. It did not say whether registered beekeepers are contacted before a spray or how much notice they receive.
What are the symptoms of dengue?
Dengue causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, and joint pain, three to 14 days after infection. It spreads only through mosquito bites, not from person to person.
Sources: “Polk County Steps Up Mosquito Spraying as Dengue Cases Climb Nearby: What Residents and Beekeepers Should Know,” The Citrus Tea News, thecitrustea.com, Sept. 23, 2026; “DOH-Polk Issues Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisory,” Florida Department of Health in Polk County, polk.floridahealth.gov, Sept. 24, 2026; “Recent Sprays,” Polk County Mosquito Control, polkfl.gov, undated; Katelyn Hoverkamp, Public and Media Relations Officer, Polk County Communications Division, email to The Citrus Tea News, Sept. 29, 2026; “Florida Arbovirus Surveillance, Week 37: September 13-19, 2026,” Florida Department of Health, floridahealth.gov, undated; “Polk County Mosquito Control Staff Monitoring Dengue Fever Outbreak in Neighboring Counties,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, Sept. 15, 2026; “Mosquito Control,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, undated; “Permethrin General Fact Sheet,” National Pesticide Information Center, npic.orst.edu, undated; “Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties Declare States of Emergency to Battle Dengue Fever,” WUSF, wusf.org, Sept. 24, 2026
