- November 28, 2024
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In addition to thinking about outdoor fun this summer, it is also important to think about mosquito prevention. From Zika and dengue to the West Nile virus, mosquitoes not only hurt when they bite, they also can infect you with viruses that make you sick.
According to a press release, the Volusia County Mosquito Control has a program that works year-round to keep mosquitoes at bay. During the peak mosquito season — May through October — the county ramps up its mosquito control efforts by managing production sites on tidal wetlands and spraying with trucks and helicopters.
But there are also steps residents can take to help with mosquitoes.
James McNelly, Volusia County’s mosquito control director said many mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, so it’s best to avoid outdoor activities at these times. If you must go outside, wear long pants, long sleeves and shoes with socks. Apply mosquito repellent to clothing and exposed skin, and use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months.
It’s also important to remove standing water from your yard, if possible, because mosquito larvae thrive in standing water.
“Take a walk through your yard so you can see where water is collecting,” McNelly advised. He also offered the following suggestions:
To keep the mosquito population from growing, it is important everyone does their part. Mosquitoes can live in water trapped in containers such as buckets, tires, kiddie pools, bird baths and clogged gutters. If a container has the ability to retain water for a week, it can create a mosquito problem that affects you and your neighborhood.
For those containers you keep, tip or flush them at least once a week.
Visit volusia.org/mosquito to find mosquito larvae and pupae in your outdoor containers. To request mosquito service, go to volusia.org/mosquito or call 239-6516.
