(Wampsville, NY – July 6, 2013) Health officials in Madison County are advising residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. With the heavy rains over the past week along with a few days of spotty sunshine, conditions are very good for mosquito populations to soar quickly. The critical message for citizens is to be vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites and the viruses they might carry.
The top ten steps you should take include:
- Wear light colored clothes, such as long-sleeved shirts and pants and shoes and socks when possible.
- Apply mosquito repellent containing no more than 30% DEET, or one containing Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535. Use no more repellent than necessary, reapply as directed by the manufacturer and remove with soap and water immediately after being outside.
- Avoid outside activity during mosquito feeding times of dusk and dawn.
- Get rid of outdoor items that hold water like tin cans, ceramic pots and plastic containers.
- Remove tires from your property.
- Clean clogged rain gutters.
- Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use. Change water often in bird baths and water troughs.
- Fix broken screens to keep mosquitos out of your home.
- Clean and chlorinate pools.
10. Use landscaping where standing water collects.
It takes only three to four days for mosquitoes to breed in quiet waters. Target these types of areas around your home and dry them out. If you notice stagnant water sources in places other than your own back yard, be proactive! Speak to your neighbors, friends and family about eliminating mosquito breeding areas and reducing the risk of mosquito-borne disease.
Due to the flooding and rain, causing significant standing water in yards, the Health Department has provided the City of Oneida with free mosquito beater pouches (or dunks) to distribute to City of Oneida residents that continue to have standing water in their yards. The dunks contain a larvicide to kill developing mosquitos. One pouch treats up to 50 square feet of water and can be applied every 7-14 days as environmental conditions continue to favor mosquito breeding. The mosquito dunks can currently be picked up at the American Red Cross Point-of-Distribution Site on Wilson Street in Oneida.
For additional information contact the Madison County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at 315-366-2526.