Current News & Events

2010 Could Prove to be a Bad Year for Mosquitoes (5/14/10)

With the wet winter and warm spring, mosquito populations have gotten an early start in 2010. Nuisance and vector mosquito species are expected to be in abundance this year throughout Georgia.

“Some two to three months before we normally see cases of mosquito-borne illnesses, one human case of West Nile Virus has already been reported in Metro Atlanta,” stated Rosmarie Kelly, PhD, MPH, Public Health Entomologist. “The type of mosquitoes and their impact on daily activities will vary, depending on where you live in Georgia.”

No matter where you live, there are general guidelines you can follow to minimize the incidence of mosquitoes and exposure to the diseases they may carry. According to Kelly, you should remove all standing water from your yard by emptying and cleaning all containers, even small ones. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots and saucers, buckets, barrels and tires.

Other ways to avoid mosquito breeding sites and bites are:

• Use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient when outdoors.
• Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk; therefore, stay indoors as much as possible during these times.
• Cover skin as much as possible if you have to be outside during dawn or dusk.
• Make sure screens on windows and doors fit properly and are not ripped to keep mosquitoes out.

Kelly also suggests applying insecticides if you have standing water in your yard, which will help control mosquitoes in the larval stage. Use products containing Bti or methoprene, and always follow the directions to apply larvicide correctly. Kelly notes that mosquitoes have a long history of developing resistance to insecticides when applied incorrectly.  

For more information visit www.cdc.gov or http://health.state.ga.us.