Dengue Fever Is Here: Why Mosquito Protection Matters for Your Family—and Your Pets

Palm Beach County residents have another reason to take mosquito control seriously

South Florida homeowners are accustomed to mosquitoes. They are, unfortunately, part of the Florida experience. But mosquitoes are more than an outdoor nuisance. They can transmit diseases that affect people and animals, which makes effective mosquito management an important part of protecting your home, your family and your pets.

That concern became especially relevant this summer when the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County confirmed a locally acquired case of dengue fever and issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory (A locally acquired case means the person was infected by a mosquito bite within Palm Beach County, not while traveling to a region where dengue is more common. This is significant because it indicates that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the area are now carrying the virus and can transmit it to residents). Local health officials and Palm Beach County Mosquito Control have been coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts in response.

And Palm Beach County is not alone. Florida has reported locally acquired dengue cases in several counties during 2026, including Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough and Pinellas. Travel-associated dengue cases have also been reported in multiple Florida counties, including Broward, Palm Beach and St. Lucie.

The message for South Florida homeowners is simple: Mosquito control isn't just about making your backyard more comfortable. It is an important part of reducing mosquito exposure.

What is dengue fever?

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes most commonly associated with dengue transmission include Aedes aegypti, a species that is well adapted to living around homes and other areas where people live.

Dengue can cause fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and rash. Most people recover, but some infections can become severe and require medical care.

One of the challenges with Aedes mosquitoes is that they don't necessarily require a large swamp or pond to reproduce. They can lay eggs in relatively small containers that hold water—including buckets, flowerpots, animal dishes and other items around residential properties. That means even a beautifully maintained property can have mosquito breeding opportunities.

Your pets face a different mosquito threat: heartworm disease

Mosquitoes don't only pose a concern for people. They are also responsible for transmitting heartworm disease, a potentially serious and sometimes life-threatening disease affecting dogs, cats and ferrets.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, heartworm disease is spread exclusively through the bite of an infected mosquito. Dogs are particularly susceptible, while cats can also become infected and may develop serious complications.

The American Heartworm Society recommends year-round heartworm prevention for dogs and cats and recognizes mosquito control as an important component of a comprehensive approach to heartworm prevention.

Of course, mosquito control around your property does not replace veterinarian-recommended heartworm prevention. Rather, reducing mosquito populations can provide an additional layer of protection for your pets.

Why eliminating standing water matters

The first line of defense starts around the property. Homeowners should regularly inspect their property for anything capable of holding water. Flowerpot saucers, buckets, toys, clogged gutters, containers, birdbaths and other small water-holding items can provide breeding opportunities.

The CDC recommends regularly emptying, scrubbing, turning over, covering or otherwise eliminating water-holding containers around the home.

But even the most diligent homeowner cannot eliminate every potential breeding site. Mosquitoes can find small, hidden areas that are difficult to identify or reach—and that's where a comprehensive mosquito management program can make a difference.

Two Layers of Protection: Mosquito Misting + In2Care®

At Island Environmental, we approach mosquito management as more than simply spraying the yard and hoping for the best. We combine conventional mosquito control with innovative technology designed to address mosquito populations where they live and reproduce.

Mosquito Misting

Our professional mosquito treatment is designed to reduce adult mosquito populations in areas where mosquitoes rest, hide and congregate around the property. Treatment focuses on mosquito-prone areas such as vegetation, shaded areas and other suitable harborage locations.

The goal is straightforward: Fewer mosquitoes around the property means fewer opportunities for mosquito bites.

This can make outdoor spaces more comfortable while helping reduce exposure to mosquitoes.

Adding In2Care® Mosquito Stations

For properties where additional mosquito management is appropriate, In2Care® Mosquito Stations can provide another layer of control. Unlike conventional treatments that primarily target mosquitoes present during an application, the In2Care system takes advantage of mosquito behavior.

Female mosquitoes are attracted to the station to lay their eggs. When they enter the station, they land on a pre-treated net and become exposed to biological and larvicidal control agents. They can then carry those agents to other mosquito breeding locations, helping interrupt the mosquito life cycle beyond the station itself. In other words, the mosquito becomes part of the delivery system.

It's a clever example of turning mosquito behavior against the mosquito population.

The stations are particularly useful as a complementary tool because mosquitoes can reproduce in hidden or difficult-to-treat locations that aren't always obvious during a routine property inspection.

A smarter approach to mosquito management

No single mosquito-control method can guarantee that a property will be completely mosquito-free.

The most effective approach is a combination of strategies:

• Reduce standing water and potential breeding sites.
• Minimize areas where adult mosquitoes can rest and hide.
• Use professional mosquito treatments when appropriate.
• Consider targeted technologies such as In2Care® stations for additional control.
• Use personal mosquito-bite prevention measures recommended by public health authorities.
• Keep pets on veterinarian-recommended heartworm prevention.

The CDC specifically recommends eliminating standing water, maintaining screens and using appropriate personal protection to reduce mosquito bites.

Protect your backyard—and the people and pets who enjoy it

Your backyard should be a place where your family can relax, entertain, play and enjoy the South Florida lifestyle—not a place where everyone is constantly swatting mosquitoes.

With dengue activity being detected locally and mosquitoes capable of transmitting diseases to both people and pets, proactive mosquito management makes sense.

Island Environmental can help you develop a mosquito-control program tailored to your property.

Whether you need regular mosquito misting, additional In2Care® Mosquito Stations, or a combination of approaches, our team can inspect your property, identify potential mosquito harborage and breeding areas, and recommend an appropriate strategy.

Ready to take back your yard?

Contact Island Environmental today to schedule a mosquito-control evaluation and learn how mosquito misting and In2Care® technology can work together to provide an additional layer of protection for your property.

Because in South Florida, mosquitoes aren't going anywhere but they don't have to run the backyard.