The mosquito breeding season is upon us and the Heath Department provides you with the following information:
Mosquitoes are able to transmit disease by biting humans and animals and infecting them with several different diseases. A few of these diseases are West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis and an emerging disease called Chikungunya.
Standing water which does not dry within a week will allow the female mosquito to lay her eggs and begin to breed mosquito larvae. Your first line of defense in stopping mosquito growth is to make sure your property is free of standing water such as; old tires, clogged gutters, flower pot bases, water barrels which are not sealed around the inlet and outlet, as well as ponding sewage. Contact the Health Department to investigate bodies of water in your neighborhood which may not drain for possible treatment.
The Health Department has resources to treat small bodies of water that are causing a public health threat in the immediate area where people are living or congregating, or can use a fogging treatment for flying adult mosquitoes.
All but a few types of mosquitoes are active between dusk and dawn, and a few actions you can take to protect yourself when you are outside include: Using an insect repellant containing D.E.E.T. or other active ingredient, according to label directions, Wear long sleeves and pants as possible when out at night. Once again remember the 4 D’s, Drain water, dusk to dawn mosquitoes, DEET repellant and dress covered when possible.