Wednesday, Jun 01, 2016
Aside from being itchy and annoying, the bite of an infected female mosquito (Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus) can spread dengue, chikungunya, or Zika viruses. People become infected with dengue, chikungunya, or Zika after being bitten by and infected mosquito.
- Femaie mosquitoes lay several hundred eggs on the walls of water filled containers. Eggs stick to containers like glue and remain attached until they are scrubbed off. When water covers the eggs, they hatch and become adults in about a week.
- Adult mosquitoes live inside and outside.
- They prefer to bite during the day.
- A few infected mosquitoes can produce large outbreaks in a community and put your family at risk of becoming sick.
Protect yourself, Your Familym and Community from Mosquitoes
- Eliminate sanding water in and around your home:
- Once a week, empty and srub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers. Check inside and outside your home.
- Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
- For containers without lids, use wire to mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
- If you have a septic tank, follow these steps:
- Repair cracks or gaps.
- Cover open vent or plumbing pipes.
- Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
- Keep mosquitoes out of your home:
- Use screens on windows and doors.
- Repair holes in screens.
- Use air conditioning when available.
