West Nile

The Florida Department of Agriculture has contracted a plane to spray pesticide over parts of Orange County after a resident tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Three sentinel chickens recently tested positive for West Nile virus in the county. While mosquitoes tend to be a year-round problem in Florida, heavy rains with flooding tend to increase their presence.

Extreme heat or flooding may not be to blame for Sarasota's malaria outbreak, but scientists say changing weather patterns could still increase risk for mosquito-borne diseases.

The population of mosquitoes is growing along with Florida's population of people and brings diseases like dengue fever and malaria. Climate change is sending non-native, invasive mosquito species to North America – specifically Florida.

The Health Department is urging residents to eliminate standing water, cover their skin when outdoors and use mosquito repellant.

West Nile virus was recently detected, and there's been a rise in travel-related cases of dengue. Here's some ways to protect yourself and your community.

State health officials have increased concerns that other people may become sick as Lee County becomes the latest county to detect the virus.

Health officials issued an advisory after three sentinel chickens tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease.

The virus has shown up in Sentinel chickens near North Port.

County health officials say three cases have been found and there is a heightened concern that more residents will become ill.