 When areas have seen heavy rainfall during the summer months, the result of all that wetness can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes: more than the usual amount each year.
Not only does the increase in the numbers of mosquitoes mean more potential for you to have itchy bites to treat, it also raises concerns of diseases carried by mosquitoes and spread when they bite people. Among the chief concern is the West Nile Virus.
Typically spread between mosquitoes and birds, people and animals can become infected with West Nile Virus through a mosquito bite. Cases are rare and far between but if there is an increase in the number of mosquitoes, the chances of spreading can increase.
It’s important to be aware of the risk and take precautionary measures to prevent mosquito bites as well as the spread of mosquitoes.
Much has been done in the United States to eliminate the risks of mosquito bites beyond the discomfort and itching. Yellow fever and malaria are recognized as mosquito-spread diseases affecting other countries like India and in Africa. These diseases and others used to be a reality here until efforts made by the public and private sectors working together in the last century to reduce them to near extinction by fighting the spread of mosquitoes.
Today the health risks are minimal but with all of the rainfall that many areas in the country have been seeing, the rise of mosquito numbers and risk of more are a good time to refresh our knowledge of prevention techniques.
According to the American Mosquito Control Association here are some of their recommendations for preventing mosquito breeding grounds near you:
- Remove all standing water from your property. This includes any pot, lid, bucket, pail, etc., that collects water. All mosquitoes need is a small patch of water that has been sitting for two days or more to breed hundreds even thousands of biting pests. After a rainfall, dump out water that has collected.
- If you have a pond on your property, check with local environment officials about the types of fish you can stock in your pond that eat mosquitoes.
- Keep swimming pools cleaned and the water properly treated to prevent mosquitoes breeding there.
- Drain puddles if possible and report any clogged drains to local authorities.
The next step is to protect you and your family from mosquitoes. Here are some recommendations from the AMCA:
- Avoid going outside during at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Areas that are seeing an increase in mosquitoes may see them active at all times of the day so remain inside as much as possible.
- Check all of the screens on your windows for openings to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. Any broken screens should be replaced or repaired using 16 mesh screening. Cover vents and other openings in your home as well with screening.
- Wear long sleeves and pants to minimize exposed skin. Cover any exposed skin with a mosquito repellent to keep mosquitoes away.
- If you’re outside on a deck or patio, run a fan. It will be harder for the mosquitoes to get near you with the stronger air current. Also, use yellow light bulbs—bug lights—in outdoor lights as mosquitoes are attracted to incandescent bulbs.
Visit the AMCA’s website at www.mosquito.org for more information on mosquitoes and prevention.
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