Environmental Health

West Nile Virus

Newsletter Article

Would you like to include an article about mosquitoes and West Nile virus (WNV) in your organization’s newsletter?

Here is an article that you can easily copy and paste into your format.

…………………………………….

Simple steps can reduce mosquitoes around your home

Summer in Georgia is not complete without lots of heat, lots of humidity and lots of mosquitoes. Although there is very little you can do about the heat and humidity, there are a few simple steps that you can take to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home.

According to Juanette Willis, a mosquito expert with the DeKalb County Board of Health, “The best way to eliminate mosquitoes is to get rid of the places they can breed.”

“Mosquitoes need standing water to breed,” Willis explained. “By simply eliminating the stagnant water around your home, you will have an enormous impact on the mosquito population.”

The most common breeding sites include bird baths, clogged gutters, unused wading pools, bottle caps, buckets, flower pots and pet dishes. By replacing the water in things like bird baths and pet dishes at lease twice a week, you can prevent thousands of mosquitoes from being born.

Since there is no way to completely wipe out mosquitoes, there are some simple things that you can do for protection like using mosquito repellent and wearing light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors.

For more information, contact the DeKalb County Board of Health, on-line at www.dekalbhealth.net and by phone at 404-508-7871.