Disease Monitoring
How We Monitor Mosquito-Borne Diseases:
Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD) uses an advanced disease surveillance program to detect mosquito-borne diseases early and protect public health.
18 Sentinel Chicken Coops: Strategically located throughout Lee County to provide early warning of mosquito-borne diseases.
Regular Blood Testing: Blood samples are collected from chickens and tested for antibodies to West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis viruses. Chickens develop antibodies after exposure but generally do not become sick, making them an effective early warning system.
Mosquito Trapping & Testing: Mosquitoes are collected and tested throughout the county to detect disease activity, including in areas without chicken coops.
Early Detection & Response: Surveillance helps us identify virus activity and respond proactively to reduce the risk of transmission to people.
Not all mosquito control programs have the resources or capabilities to provide this level of disease surveillance. LCMCD's comprehensive approach provides an additional layer of public health protection for Lee County residents.
Help Us Protect Public Health!
Mosquito-borne disease prevention is a community effort! You can help by:
Dumping standing water around your home to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
Using EPA-registered insect repellent when spending time outdoors.
Reporting unusual mosquito activity to LCMCD.
Early detection. Proactive response. Stronger public health protection.
Together, we can help keep Lee County safe from mosquito-borne diseases.