Public health officials are recommending that residents dump standing water, keep yards maintained and use insect repellent when spending time outdoors to reduce the risk of mosquito breeding and bites.
Standing water in containers, gutters, birdbaths and other receptacles creates ideal breeding sites for mosquitoes. Eliminating these habitats helps lower local mosquito populations and reduces the chance of mosquito-borne illnesses and nuisance biting.
Officials routinely advise simple prevention steps: empty or cover containers that hold water, maintain landscaping to reduce shaded, damp areas, and apply EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors. Those steps also protect people who are more vulnerable to complications from mosquito-borne disease, such as the elderly and infants.
Local health departments and mosquito-control programs often monitor mosquito activity and may provide additional guidance or spraying schedules when necessary. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
