MCHD begins aerial spraying for mosquitoes 06-12-26

June 12, 2026

MCHD begins aerial spraying for mosquitoes

MOBILE, Ala. — In response to the heavy rainfall experienced across the area over the past several weeks, the Mobile County Health Department’s Vector Services has seen a significant increase in mosquito-related service requests throughout county. In addition to a rise in resident complaints, mosquito surveillance data collected from monitoring traps have shown a substantial increase in mosquito populations, particularly in the county’s northern and southern marshland regions.

To address elevated mosquito levels, Vector Services deployed its 1973 Cessna “Mosquito Defeater” aircraft to conduct aerial mosquito-control operations in targeted areas of northern Mobile County. The mission focused on marshy and difficult-to-access habitats that serve as ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes following periods of excessive rainfall.

“MCHD provides a comprehensive program through its Vector Services department. This includes mosquito surveillance, disease surveillance, public health education, larviciding (larvae control), and adulticiding (adult mosquito control) to track, monitor, and control mosquitoes,” said Dr. Kevin Michaels, Health Officer for Mobile County. “Vector Services also assesses the potential for mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and St. Louis Encephalitis through its sentinel chicken program.

“There are more than 50 species of mosquitoes in Mobile County and in past years some mosquito pools have tested positive for these mosquito-borne diseases.”

The aerial application flight departed from the St. Elmo Airport and proceeded to the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. After arrival, the aircraft conducted spraying operations over the Battleship Park area, then continued north into Mobile County.

The flight route included operations in and around the Cochran-Africatown Bridge area, the Port of Chickasaw, Saraland, Creola, and Mount Vernon. Spray activities were conducted throughout the northern Mobile County corridor, primarily between Highway 43 and the surrounding marshland areas of north Mobile.

Flight operations progressed northward from Brookley Field, covering designated treatment areas within the industrial, port, and marshland regions. The mission was completed along the northern coastal zone while maintaining coverage of target fields and operational areas located between Highway 43 and the marshlands extending through North Mobile County.

Aerial applications provide an efficient and effective method for reducing mosquito populations across large wetland areas while helping protect residents from nuisance mosquitoes and potential mosquito-borne diseases. Vector Services will continue monitoring mosquito activity through its surveillance program and respond as necessary to protect public health and improve the quality of life for county residents.

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.