Vector Services continues mosquito control operations 08-04-26

August 4, 2026

Vector Services continues mosquito control operations

MOBILE, Ala. — Vector Services has been working diligently to address the recent increase in mosquito complaints across Mobile County.

As shared in previous updates during June and July, a series of storms, heavy rainfall, and high wind events significantly impacted our mosquito control operations. Because nighttime spraying requires safe weather conditions, our spray trucks were unable to operate on several evenings because of rain and high winds.

Most recently, Tropical Storm Bertha brought additional storms and strong winds to Mobile County, preventing our nighttime spray trucks from operating for several more nights.

To make up for the lost service, the Vector Services team worked on Saturday to complete the week’s outstanding mosquito complaints. Thanks to this additional effort and the team’s dedication, we were able to catch up on complaints that accumulated during the period of severe weather associated with Tropical Storm Bertha.

Vector Services remains committed to providing Mobile County residents with effective, data-driven mosquito control. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as weather conditions occasionally affect our ability to safely conduct nighttime spraying. Our team will continue working to reduce mosquito populations and respond to citizen concerns as quickly as conditions allow.

In addition to our mosquito control efforts, Vector Services has implemented its Sentinel Chicken Surveillance Program throughout Mobile County. Earlier this month, 13 sentinel chicken coops were placed at strategic locations across the county to help monitor for mosquito-borne diseases.

The first round of blood samples collected from approximately 50 sentinel chickens tested negative for mosquito-borne viruses, indicating that no mosquito-borne disease activity has been detected in Mobile County at this time. Our team will continue to monitor the sentinel flocks through regular sample collection and testing. This surveillance program provides valuable data that helps guide mosquito control efforts and supports the early detection of mosquito-borne diseases, allowing us to better protect the health of Mobile County residents.

Our online portal is 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.

MCHD has launched an interactive story map focusing on mosquito activity and arbovirus surveillance. This tool is for the public to learn about mosquitoes, the arboviruses they cause, and how they can protect themselves. Please visit https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/ce89a50495fa4a908880cefe903506b5/ or https://mchd.org/ under Community Tools.