SC seeing mosquito invasion surge in parts of state. Here’s why

There’s a good reason why emergency officials recommend bug spray be part of home hurricane preparedness kits.

Certain areas of South Carolina have recently reported a strong surge in mosquito infestations. These areas were also impacted by Hurricane Ian last month.

This is not a coincidence, officials say.

According to a Tuesday post from the Georgetown County official government Facebook page, recent swarms of mosquitoes have stricken the area.

“As a result of Hurricane Ian two weeks ago, combined with warmer temperatures this past weekend, the mosquitoes have hatched in a big way,” the Facebook post reads. “We hear you!”

Ian struck South Carolina on Sept. 30 as a Category 1 hurricane near Georgetown County, causing flooding and wind damage along the coast. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that hurricanes can bring flooding, which in turn can trigger the threat of mosquitoes.

“Mosquito eggs laid in the soil by floodwater mosquitoes during previous floods hatch. This results in very large populations of floodwater mosquitoes,” the CDC states. “Because people spend more time outside cleaning up after a hurricane or flood, they are more likely to be bitten by nuisance mosquitoes.”

The Charleston County Mosquito Control has also had to work harder recently to repel mosquitoes, WCBD news reports. The department has been spraying the area near the Francis Marion National Forest after communities there began reporting an influx of mosquitoes following Ian.

Parts of Florida have also had to deal with more mosquitoes lately. The state was hit far harder than South Carolina by Ian when it was a Category 4 hurricane.

Florida’s Lee County Mosquito Control District recently told the Fort Myers News-Press that the mosquito surge was all over and that his department had pilots in the air to spray every spot possible.

Meanwhile, Georgetown officials are on the case to defend residents from the annoying mosquitoes.

“All calls have been logged and we are scheduling extra spray routes to cover the worst hit areas,” the Georgetown Facebook post reads. “Cooler temperatures later this week should reduce their activity; but we are ready to take whatever actions we deem necessary to reduce their numbers. Thank you for supporting the Mosquito Control personnel as they work this situation.”