Heavy rains affecting mosquito control efforts 06-18-26

June 18, 2026

Heavy rains affecting mosquito control efforts

MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Health Department’s Vector Services program has been unable to send out its spray trucks over the last week because of inclement weather. The trucks do not spray on windy nights or during rain because it would not be an effective use of insecticides.

Dr. Derrick Scott, the Bureau Director of Environmental Health, said, “MCHD is expected to return to covering its 50 routes through Mobile County next week should the weather be allowed. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to do their part in helping to eliminate potential mosquito breeding areas.”

Citizens are reminded that mosquitoes can carry such diseases as encephalitis (sleeping sickness) in this area of the country and therefore precautions should be taken to avoid exposure.

“At the Mobile County Health Department, we want the public to know that mosquito control starts long before a spray truck enters a neighborhood,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “The first and most effective step is removing standing water from containers, tires, and other places where mosquitoes breed. Spraying is one of the last steps we use, after breeding sites are addressed and other control methods have been considered.”

Our online portal is now available to help the public request assistance from Vector Services and receive feedback on their request to deal with mosquitoes or rodents. To learn more, visit https://mchd.org/vector-control. From there, you can find a link and a QR code to access the new online portal for ordering services.

The telephone numbers for those without internet access are 251-690-8124 for Mosquito Control and 251-690-8819 for Rodent Control.

In addition, MCHD has launched an interactive story map that helps the public track mosquito activity, learn about arboviruses, and find ways to protect themselves and their families. The story map is available at mchd.org/community-tools/ and through the “Mosquito Monitoring in Mobile County” link.