Can Mosquitoes Spread Coronavirus? Polk County Spraying More

BARTOW, FL — Many Polk County residents have concerns about mosquito bites spreading coronavirus according to the Polk County Board of Commissioners.

A Polk County press release states that the pesky insects cannot spread coronavirus.

"For a mosquito to transmit viruses, the virus must be able to multiply inside the female mosquito and then make its way to her salivary gland," said Mosquito Control Manager Carl Boohene in a press release. "When an infected mosquito bites someone, it injects the virus into that person and they become infected and can become sick. Mosquito-borne viruses that spread like this include West Nile, Zika, Dengue Fever and others."

According to a press release, the Mosquito Control Team's full mosquito spraying program will start in May to protect Polk County residents from mosquito-borne illnesses.