Summer is here and you are likely spending more time outdoors. At the same time, mosquitoes are also increasing in numbers and you are becoming more likely to encounter them. This summer, Madison County Health Department is asking everyone in the community to take part in “Operation Community Cleanup: Mosquito Habitat Search and Destroy,” a county-wide effort to encourage everyone to take action against mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes, even when not a health threat, are a nuisance to all residents and interfere with outdoor enjoyment.
There are steps every family can take regularly to prevent mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding habitats. We recommend:
Identifying and removing sources of standing water that can serve as a site for a mosquito to breed. Common sources can include buckets, trash cans, planters, tall grasses, and puddles on playgrounds. To ensure these do not become mosquito breeding sites, regularly clean, turn over, cover, or completely remove these sources; sweep away pools of water, keep all grassy areas mowed (including less-traveled or hard to reach areas like under picnic tables).
Use an EPA registered insect repellent and reapply as according to the product label. If you are also using sunscreen, apply that first, then put on the insect repellent. To apply repellent on your face, spray into your hands to apply on your face. If you are unsure which insect repellent may be right for you, check out the EPA’s online search tool at http://bit.ly/registeredrepellent.
Dress in clothes that cover arms and legs when going outside.
In Madison County, it is likely we will detect Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus in mosquito species living in the woodland swamp area of Sullivan. Fortunately, we do NOT expect to find mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus locally or in the Central New York area; however, it is important residents who may be traveling, especially pregnant women, to consider avoiding travel to areas affected by Zika in places outside the continental U.S.
For more steps you and your family can take to fight the bite this summer, visit us online at www.healthymadisoncounty.org or call 366-2526.