The mosquito population is increasing at an alarming rate in Southern California, becoming a serious public health problem. To address the situation, Orange County has unleashed an innovative weapon: drones armed with bacteria-filled projectiles.
“It's a real battle. And thanks to technological advances, we are gaining ground,” says Kiet Nguyen, ecologist and insect specialist.
Hi-tech drones: the new heroes in the war against mosquitoes
Hi-tech drones are revolutionizing mosquito control: with them the aim is directly to "break" the development of insects in swamps, large ponds and parks. An unprecedented increase in the number of mosquitoes, due to a winter of exceptional rainfall, has forced the district in California to take drastic measures to combat this buzzing menace.
Traditionally, anti-mosquito treatments (I mean “collective” ones, not individual) involve labor-intensive methods, such as backpack sprayers, trucks, planes and helicopters. However, the use of drones paves the way for a more precise and less invasive approach.
Kiet Nguyen says the ability of drones to access hard-to-reach areas is a game changer. “We are always looking for advances in technology, what can do the job more efficiently, more beneficial to the team and less invasive,” has explained. While it would take an operator with a backpack sprayer over an hour to treat 0,4 hectares of land, the same area could be covered by a drone in less than two minutes.
California sky? It's an observatory: mosquitoes, beware
The use of drones brings a further advantage. Or rather, it does not bring a disadvantage, causing minimal disturbance to the local fauna. “We have done studies on birds,” he said John savage, drone operator. “Usually the birds return soon after the drone passes. So if there is, it's better for the environment.”
The treatment itself is harmless to wildlife and only affects the larvae: those of mosquitoes are filter feeders, so they feed on bacteria. The bacteria enter their intestines and regulate their growth.
What about human safety? Drones are not allowed to fly over residential neighborhoods. In California, the regulation on the subject is quite restrictive.
Good prospects
Mosquito-borne diseases have long posed a threat to public health, but recent developments have raised further concerns. The European Union's disease prevention authority has highlighted the increased risk of mosquito-borne viral diseases due to climate change.
In the US, local cases of mosquito-borne malaria are reported in Florida and Texas, the first after a two-decade hiatus. West Nile virus remains the most common and serious mosquito-borne disease in California and has caused more than 300 deaths since 2003.
The use of drones represents a significant step forward: the virus has not yet been detected this year. Sure, definitive victory may be far away, but these advances offer great hope for protecting public health.
