Health Department staff were on hand Wednesday at the Library to hand out free mosquito control “dunks,” insect repellent and information about mosquitoes, in honor of National Mosquito Control Awareness Week. Public education is part of the Department’s annual comprehensive plan to control the mosquito population and prevent mosquito-borne diseases. The plan also includes:
- Weekly trapping and testing of mosquito test pools from across the city during April-October
- Spraying as needed whenever West Nile virus is found in trapped mosquitoes (so far this year, no sample pools have tested positive)
- Using larvicide along creeks and other stagnant bodies of water to prevent mosquito eggs from developing into adults
- Monitoring and notification in neighborhoods where potential mosquito breeding areas are discovered
Residents are encouraged to follow the “Four D’s” as part of their own mosquito plan:
- Drain standing water
- Avoid being out at dusk/dawn
- Dress in long sleeves and pants
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET or other effective repellents all day every day
Website: www.cor.net/mosquito
