Mosquito control must be a community effort.
Summer is upon us, and for many people, especially in the South, this not only means pools and relaxing days but something more: mosquito season. With the spread of the Zika virus, this mosquito season could be highly impactful in Florida, where officials have reported the most significant number of Zika Virus cases (96), 6 of which were reported in the Orange County area, and where the Aedes aegypti mosquito (Zika carrier) is abundant.
The fact that Florida has the most significant number of recorded cases of Zika in the U.S. means that the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are prevalent here, are more likely to bite infected people and spread the virus to someone else.
How to tackle mosquito control at the local level.
Local mosquito control districts manage mosquito control. The areas that most need these districts are the ones that tend to lack funding for mosquito control, one of which is the Miami-Dade district. Miami-Dade has only 12 inspectors for the whole district. If this number seems small, look at the Orange County district, which has a budget of 2.2 million (a 3% decrease from the 2014-2015 budget) compared to Miami-Dade’s 2.8 million. 12 inspectors seem significantly low, especially when talking about a county once named ‘Mosquito County.’
“We’ve been going door-to-door across the county and asking for permission to look for sources of standing water such as pool tarps, tires, buckets and sandbox toys … These particular mosquitoes only breed in artificial containers, which means that residents can help prevent the spread of this disease.”
– Kelly Deutsch, acting manager of the Orange County Mosquito Control Division.
To prevent a Zika outbreak, mosquito control must become a local effort to lessen the probability of a Zika outbreak in Florida. It is crucial for homeowners to empty all sources of standing water around or near their homes to help eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitos. Mosquito-repellent use is also strongly advised when leaving home.
Recommendations for homeowners & Mosquito Control Divisions:
- Dispose of unused containers that collect water in your yards, such as old buckets, cans, bottles, and jars.
- Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and keep drains and gutters unclogged so that water does not collect in these areas.
- Change the water and scrub the sides of birdbaths, animal troughs, and pet watering dishes regularly to get rid of mosquito eggs.
- Properly discard unused tires, make holes, or store them in a covered area so water can’t collect in them.
- Turn wheelbarrows, tubs, children’s wading pools, and boats upside down or store them under cover when unused.
- Keep weeds, vines, and grass trimmed since mosquitoes use these for shady areas as resting places during hot daylight hours.
- Fill tree holes with sand or mortar so water does not collect.
- Change water in vases and pots holding flowers or cuttings twice weekly.
Most Mosquito Control Districts don’t test the mosquito population for Zika due to a lack of resources. If the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Florida begin spreading Zika, we will likely only find out once people become infected.
Keep your home and loved ones safe from Zika.
If you want to ensure your home is safe from mosquitoes, contact ABC! Our technicians are experts who will apply the best treatments to your yard to make it safe and mosquito-free all spring and summer. Get a free consultation today.