Monday, April 25, 2016

Florida residents should protect themselves from mosquitoes

The Franklin County mosquito control department will increase its mosquito spraying in May.

Mosquito Control director Dewitt Polous said that he will bring in additional workers on May 1st to help control mosquito populations during the hot and usually rainy summer months.

The mosquito control department is urging all residents and visitors to be very careful of mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes carry diseases including yellow fever, west nile virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

This year, officials are particularly concerned about the zika virus, a virus that originated in Africa but is now spreading into South America and the US.

The infection is suspected of causing babies to be born with underdeveloped brains.

According to the Center of Disease Control there have been 82 cases of Zika in Florida so far, all of them in people who have traveled to area where the disease is widespread.

The disease is carried by the Aedis Aegypti mosquito, which can be found all around Florida.

You can help control the Aedis Aegypti population by removing standing water from your property.

These mosquitoes tend to breed in standing water and once they hatch they don’t travel far so removing standing water can greatly decrease the mosquito population in your yard.

It’s also a good idea to wear mosquito repellent and long pants and long sleeved shirts, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes feed most actively.


If you are still having a problem with mosquitoes call the Franklin county mosquito control department at 670- 8730 and they can send someone to spray in your area.



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