{"meta":{"status":200,"messages":[],"pagination":{"max":1,"offset":0,"count":1,"total":1,"pageNum":1,"totalPages":1,"sort":null,"currentUrl":"https://api.digitalmedia.hhs.gov/api/v2/resources/media.json?offset=0&max=1&ignoreHiddenMedia=1&format=json&id=15776&newUrlBase=https://www.cdc.gov/zika/vector","nextUrl":null,"previousUrl":null}},"results":[{"content":"<body>\n <div class=\"syndicate\"> \n  <h1 autofocus=\"true\">Aerial Spraying</h1> \n </div> \n <div class=\"syndicate\"> \n  <div> \n   <div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_summary\"> \n     <div> \n      <h2>What to know</h2> \n     </div> \n     <div> \n      <ul> \n       <li>Aerial spraying is used to control and reduce the number of mosquitoes that can spread viruses.</li> \n       <li>Aerial spraying can reduce your chances of getting sick from a mosquito-borne disease.</li> \n       <li>Airplanes and helicopters can treat areas with larvicides or adulticides to kill mosquito larvae or adult mosquitoes.</li> \n      </ul> \n      <div> \n      </div> \n     </div> \n     <div> \n      <figure> \n       <div> \n        <img src=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/media/images/Getty-173613903-Helicopter-16-9.jpg\" alt=\"Helicopter used for spraying larvicides and adulticides.\"> \n       </div> \n      </figure> \n     </div> \n    </div> \n   </div> \n   <div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_1\"> \n     <a name=\"What%20you%20need%20to%20know%20about%20aerial%20spraying\" title=\"What you need to know about aerial spraying\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>What you need to know about aerial spraying</h2> \n     <p>Airplanes and helicopters can be used to treat very large areas with <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/larvicides.html\">larvicides</a> or <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/adulticides.html\">adulticides</a> to kill mosquito larvae or adult mosquitoes. This process is called aerial spraying. Aerial spraying is used to:</p> \n     <ul> \n      <li>Control and reduce the number of mosquitoes that can spread viruses. This can reduce your chances of getting sick.</li> \n      <li>Control and reduce the number of nuisance mosquitoes that bother people but do not spread viruses.</li> \n     </ul> \n     <p>Mosquito control districts or local government departments track both nuisance mosquitoes and mosquitoes that can spread viruses. When large numbers of nuisance or infected mosquitoes are found or when people in a large area are getting sick, airplanes and helicopters can treat very large areas with insecticides safely, quickly, and efficiently.</p> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_2\"> \n     <a name=\"Aerial%20spraying%20is%20safe\" title=\"Aerial spraying is safe\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>Aerial spraying is safe</h2> \n     <ul> \n      <li>When applied according to label instructions, <a href=\"https://www.epa.gov/caddis/insecticides\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insecticides<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a> do not pose a risk to human health or the environment.</li> \n      <li>If people prefer to stay inside when spraying takes place, they can, but it is not necessary.</li> \n      <li>When aerial spraying is done correctly, it does not cause asthma attacks.</li> \n     </ul> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_3\"> \n     <a name=\"What%20aerial%20spraying%20does\" title=\"What aerial spraying does\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>What aerial spraying does</h2> \n     <p>Airplanes and helicopters spray products that quickly kill either adult mosquitoes or mosquito larvae to reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area.</p> \n     <ul> \n      <li>Spraying larvicides kills mosquito larvae that hatch from eggs.</li> \n      <li>Spraying adulticides quickly kills flying mosquitoes.</li> \n      <li>Both larvicides and adulticides temporarily reduce the number of mosquitoes in an area, but do not permanently get rid of them.</li> \n     </ul> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_4\"> \n     <a name=\"How%20aerial%20spraying%20works\" title=\"How aerial spraying works\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>How aerial spraying works</h2> \n     <ul> \n      <li>Very low volumes of either adulticide or larvicide are sprayed in areas where mosquitoes are present.</li> \n      <li>Aerial spraying of larvicides can occur at any time.</li> \n      <li>Aerial spraying of adulticides occurs when mosquitoes are most active and when pollinating insects are not active.</li> \n      <li>Aerial spraying is more effective and faster than truck-mounted or handheld sprayers when treating large areas of land.</li> \n     </ul> \n     <h3>How insecticides help protect communities</h3> \n     <p>During mosquito season and especially during outbreaks of disease, insecticides are important for protecting the community from mosquito-borne diseases like <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/about/index.html\">West Nile</a>, <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/eastern-equine-encephalitis/about/index.html\">eastern equine encephalitis</a>, and more.</p> \n     <div> \n      <div> \n       <div data-yt-id=\"7ZvkGTvB7NI\"> \n        <iframe src=\"https://www.cdc.gov//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/7ZvkGTvB7NI?autohide=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;origin=https://www.cdc.gov?autohide=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;origin=https://www.cdc.gov&amp;wmode=opaque?enablejsapi=1\" allowfullscreen title=\"Preventing Mosquito-Borne Diseases with Insecticides\"></iframe> \n        <noscript> \n         <div> \n          <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov//www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/7ZvkGTvB7NI?autohide=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;origin=https://www.cdc.gov?autohide=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;origin=https://www.cdc.gov&amp;wmode=opaque?enablejsapi=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Preventing Mosquito-Borne Diseases with Insecticides</a> \n         </div> \n        </noscript> \n       </div> \n      </div> \n     </div> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_5\"> \n     <a name=\"How%20to%20find%20out%20when%20aerial%20spraying%20will%20occur\" title=\"How to find out when aerial spraying will occur\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>How to find out when aerial spraying will occur</h2> \n     <p>Generally, local government agencies or mosquito control districts announce the dates and times of spraying. They may publish information in a local newspaper, on district websites and social media, through public service announcements, by telephone, or with door-to-door campaigns.</p> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_6\"> \n     <a name=\"What%20to%20do%20when%20aerial%20spraying%20occurs\" title=\"What to do when aerial spraying occurs\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>What to do when aerial spraying occurs</h2> \n     <p>You do not need to leave an area during aerial spraying. When applied by a licensed vector control professional who follows label instructions, aerial spraying poses minimal risk to people, pets, animals, and the environment.</p> \n     <p>Because aerial spraying uses very low volumes of either adulticide or larvicide, you aren\u2019t likely to breathe or touch anything that has enough insecticide on it to harm you. There is a possibility that spraying larvicides, like Bti, or adulticides can cause eye irritation if a person is outside when spraying takes place.</p> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_7\"> \n     <a name=\"Information%20on%20insecticides%20and%20health\" title=\"Information on insecticides and health\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>Information on insecticides and health</h2> \n     <ul> \n      <li>EPA oversees registration of insecticides.</li> \n      <li>The <a href=\"http://npic.orst.edu/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"edu\">National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a> provides information online or through a toll-free number, 1-800-858-7378.</li> \n     </ul> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_8\"> \n     <a name=\"Fact%20sheet\" title=\"Fact sheet\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>Fact sheet</h2> \n     <p><a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/pdfs/aerial-spraying-508.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">What You Need to Know About Aerial Spraying<span aria-label=\" pdf icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"></span></a></p> \n    </div> \n    <div data-section=\"cdc_generic_section_9\"> \n     <a name=\"References\" title=\"References\" href=\"https://www.cdc.gov\"> \n      <!-- --></a> \n     <h2>References</h2> \n     <ul> \n      <li>Carney RM, Husted S, Jean C, Glaser C, Kramer V. <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18439356/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Efficacy of aerial spraying of mosquito adulticide in reducing incidence of West Nile Virus, California, 2005<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 May;14(5):747-54.</li> \n      <li>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5421a1.htm\">Human exposure to mosquito-control pesticides \u2013 Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia, 2002 and 2003</a>. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2005 June;54(21):529-32.</li> \n      <li>Duprey Z, Rivers S, Luber G, Becker A, Blackmore C, Barr D, et al. <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18437813/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Community aerial mosquito control and naled exposure<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2008 Mar;24(1):42-6.</li> \n      <li>Geraghty EM, Margolis HG, Kjemtrup A, Reisen W, Franks P. <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3610074/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Correlation between aerial insecticide spraying to interrupt West Nile virus transmission and emergency department visits in Sacramento County, California<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. Public Health Rep. 2013 May\u2013Jun;128(3):221-30.</li> \n      <li>Holcomb KM, Reiner RC, Barker CM. <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33627165/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Spatio-temporal impacts of aerial adulticide applications on populations of West Nile virus vector mosquitoes<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. Parasites &amp; Vectors. 2021;14(1):120.</li> \n      <li>Karpati AM, Perrin MC, Matte T, Leighton J, Schwartz J, Barr RG. <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1247479/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Pesticide spraying for West Nile virus control and emergency department asthma visits in New York City, 2000<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. Environ Health Perspect. 2004 Aug;112(11):1183-7.</li> \n      <li>Lothrop HD, Lothrop BB, Gomsi DE, Reisen WK. <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2978539/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Intensive early season adulticide applications decrease arbovirus transmission through the Coachella Valley, Riverside County, California<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis.2008 Aug;8(4):475-89.</li> \n      <li>Macedo PA, Schleier JJ, Reed M, et al. <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20402352/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Evaluation of efficacy and human health risk of aerial ultra-low volume applications of pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide for adult mosquito management in response to West Nile virus activity in Sacramento County, California<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. J M Mosq Control Assoc. 2010;26(1):57-66.</li> \n      <li>Mendoza DL, Peterson RKD, Bonds JAS, White GS, Faraji A. <a href=\"https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4672/3/4/39\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"com\">Are adult mosquito control products (adulticides) harmful? A review of the potential human health impacts from exposure to naled and dichlorvos (DDVP)<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. Pollutants. 2023;3(4):603-15.</li> \n      <li>Ruktanonchai DJ, Stonecipher S, Lindsey N, et al. <a href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4125243/\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"gov\">Effect of aerial insecticide spraying on West Nile virus disease \u2013 North-Central Texas, 2012<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Aug 6;91(2):240-45.</li> \n      <li>Tai Z, Connelly CR, Lange SK, Foley N, De Leon Rivera J, Lozano S, Nett RJ. <a href=\"https://academic.oup.com/jme/article/62/1/8/7828086\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-domain-ext=\"com\">A scoping review to determine if adverse human health effects are associated with use of organophosphates for mosquito control<span aria-label=\" external icon\" role=\"img\"></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"external icon\"></span></a>. J Med Entomol. 2024 Oct 19;62(1):8-18.</li> \n     </ul> \n    </div> \n   </div> \n   <div> \n    <aside role=\"complementary\"> \n     <div data-sid=\"\"> \n      <h2> On This Page </h2> \n      <div> \n       <ul> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_1-what-you-need-to-know-about-aerial-spraying\" title=\"What you need to know about aerial spraying\">What you need to know about aerial spraying</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_2-aerial-spraying-is-safe\" title=\"Aerial spraying is safe\">Aerial spraying is safe</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_3-what-aerial-spraying-does\" title=\"What aerial spraying does\">What aerial spraying does</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_4-how-aerial-spraying-works\" title=\"How aerial spraying works\">How aerial spraying works</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_5-how-to-find-out-when-aerial-spraying-will-occur\" title=\"How to find out when aerial spraying will occur\">How to find out when aerial spraying will occur</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_6-what-to-do-when-aerial-spraying-occurs\" title=\"What to do when aerial spraying occurs\">What to do when aerial spraying occurs</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_7-information-on-insecticides-and-health\" title=\"Information on insecticides and health\">Information on insecticides and health</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_8-fact-sheet\" title=\"Fact sheet\">Fact sheet</a></li> \n        <li><a href=\"#cdc_generic_section_9-references\" title=\"References\">References</a></li> \n       </ul> \n      </div> \n     </div> \n    </aside> \n    <aside role=\"complementary\"> \n    </aside> \n   </div> \n  </div> \n  <section> \n   <time datetime=\"2026-06-25 00:00:00\"> June 25, 2026 </time> \n  </section> \n  <div> \n   <div> \n    <a data-action=\"summary\" href=\"#content-sources\" role=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"content-sources\" data-cs-toggle=\"\">Sources</a> \n    <a data-action=\"print\" href=\"#print\" aria-label=\"print this page\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print</a> \n    <a data-action=\"share\" href=\"#share\" data-bs-toggle=\"dropdown\" aria-label=\"share this page\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Share</a> \n    <div data-popper-placement=\"bottom-start\"> \n     <a href=\"#\"><span></span></a> \n     <a href=\"#\"><span></span></a> \n     <a href=\"#\"><span></span></a> \n     <a href=\"#\"><span></span></a> \n    </div> \n   </div> \n   <div> \n    <div role=\"dialog\"> \n     <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"Share to Facebook\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.facebook.com/\"> <span>Facebook</span> <span></span> </a> \n     <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"Share to LinkedIn\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/\"> <span>LinkedIn</span> <span></span> </a> \n     <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"Share to Twitter\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://twitter.com/\"> <span>Twitter</span> <span></span> </a> \n     <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"Embed this Page\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https://tools.cdc.gov/medialibrary/index.aspx#/sharecontent\"> <span>Syndicate</span> <span></span> </a> \n    </div> \n   </div> \n   <div> \n    <div role=\"status\"> \n     <div>\n       Content Source: \n     </div> \n     <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/\">National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)</a> \n    </div> \n    <div> \n     <label for=\"page_sources\">Sources</label> \n     <ul> \n      <li><a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid</a></li> \n     </ul> \n    </div> \n   </div> \n  </div> \n  <section> \n  </section> \n </div>\n <script type=\"application/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"http://schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Article\",\"headline\":\"Information on Aerial Spraying\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-34-01T20:34:30Z\",\"description\":\"Information on Zika virus. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\",\"about\":\"prevention, research, policy, cessation, secondhand smoke, zika, zika virus, mosquitoes, avoid mosquito bites, viral disease, Tropical Africa, Aedes, Flaviviridae family, Smoking Use and Tobacco Facts, Quitting Resources, Prevent Smoking and Tobacco Use\",\"audience\":\"\",\"dateCreated\":\"2016-34-01T20:34:30Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2016-23-13T06:23:53Z\",\"sourceOrganization\":\"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\"}</script>\n</body><div class='syndicate'><span><Strong>Syndicated Content Details:</strong></span><br/><span>Source URL: <a href='https://www.cdc.gov/zika/vector/aerial-spraying.html'>https://www.cdc.gov/zika/vector/aerial-spraying.html</a></span><br/><span>Source Agency: <a href='http://www.cdc.gov'>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</a></span><br/><span>Captured Date: 2016-09-01 20:34:30.0</span><br/></div><iframe src=\"//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KT9TM9&mediaId=15776&mediaType=html&sourceUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fzika%2Fvector%2Faerial-spraying.html&userId=-1&sourceId=6&sourceAcronym=CDC&campaignId=-1&campaignName=null&languageId=1&isoCode=eng\" height=\"0\" width=\"0\" style=\"display:none;visibility:hidden\"></iframe><noscript><iframe src=\"//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-KT9TM9&mediaId=15776&mediaType=html&sourceUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fzika%2Fvector%2Faerial-spraying.html&userId=-1&sourceId=6&sourceAcronym=CDC&campaignId=-1&campaignName=null&languageId=1&isoCode=eng\" height=\"0\" width=\"0\" style=\"display:none;visibility:hidden\"></iframe></noscript>","description":"Information on Zika virus. 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