MD-82
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; General Declared Emergency
Environment - Non Weather Related
During cruise; First Flight Attendant called to notify me of a significant amount of small mosquitoes swarming in the front part of coach near the forward bulkhead and in the back of the airplane. They appeared to be small; newly hatched mosquitoes. He also informed me that several of the passengers were getting somewhat uneasy due to the number of mosquitoes; the recent media reports of West Nile Virus being spread by mosquitoes; and the fact that they were continuously swatting mosquitoes on their persons and on the cabin walls. I called Dispatch and notified him of the situation; that the airplane would need to be fumigated at destination before allowing further passenger flights; and that I would be making a report of the problem with insects. I also increased the airspeed to expedite the flight. Just before descent; the First Flight Attendant informed me that the mosquito problem had gotten much worse and that there were now several spiders that were seen and killed by passengers in addition to the huge number of mosquitoes. He also let me know that although passengers were actively swatting and killing as many mosquitoes as possible; he and the other flight attendants were able to keep the passengers calm and in good spirits. As I began coordinating shortcuts to expedite landing; I decided to declare an emergency with ATC for priority handling; which would allow us to proceed direct to the runway of choice so we could land; get to the gate; and deplane passengers as quickly as possible. My First Officer flew the airplane while I accomplished appropriate items in the Emergency Landing Checklist. After coordinating with the company; the stairs were lowered upon arrival at the gate and nearly half of the passengers were routed down the stairs and escorted back around and up the jet bridge stairs. Although there were likely many mosquito bites; I'm not aware of any injuries to passengers and everyone appeared to deplane in good spirits.
Flight Attendant informed MD82 Captain of a large number of mosquitoes swarming in the cabin during cruise flight. Flight crew declared an emergency to expedite ATC handling to the destination airport.