Abandoned pools create mosquito havens

Swimming pools in foreclosed Florida homes and nationwide are again creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes as the green, murky algae-filled pits sit empty. James Burgess, manager of mosquito and disease surveillance at Lee County Mosquito Control District in Lehigh Acres, near Fort Myers, joined a national conference of planning officials from the American Mosquito Control Association’s meeting in New Orleans and explored methods for spotting the stagnant backyard swamps. Helicopter surveillance can be complemented by checking city permit records, participants said.