THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CAUTIONS AGAINST ABANDONED SWIMMING POOLS

Franklin- Franklin County Health Department urges all private homeowners and commercial
businesses with swimming pools to properly maintain their swimming pools with necessary
chemicals. If residents and /or businesses notice any abandoned and/or unkempt swimming
pools, please notify, Melissa Durkin at Franklin County Health Department at (850) 653-
2111 extension 117 or Dewitt Polous at Franklin County Mosquito Control at (850) -670-
8730). Abandoned swimming pools can be a breading ground for mosquitoes and can cause
mosquito-borne disease.

“Abandoned or unused swimming pools can be treated with mosquito dunks which are
available at the local hardware store. Property owners may also contract with a swimming pool
maintenance company to keep their pool properly maintained”, said Melissa Durkin.

Symptoms of West Nile virus may include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and
confusion. Physicians should contact Franklin County Health Department if they suspect an
individual may have a mosquito-borne illness. DOH laboratories provide testing services for
physicians treating patients with clinical signs of mosquito-borne disease.

DOH continues to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito borne illnesses, including West
Nile virus infections, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria and dengue.
For more information on mosquito-borne illnesses, visit DOH’s Environmental Health Web site
at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/medicine/arboviral/index.html.


http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments