Due to the large amounts of mosquitoes this year, the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department has released information on how residents can help control the population, what the city is doing about it, and how to protect yourself and your family from the possibility of sickness due to mosquitoes.
The Health Department knows that citizens are concerned with the possibility of contracting the West Nile Virus. They would like the public to know that every mosquito bite does not cause West Nile Virus. Very few mosquitoes carry the virus and less than 1 % of the bites that do have the virus actually cause serious illness. The West Nile Virus has not been identified in the area, but officials are treating all mosquitoes as dangerous.
The Health Department is currently performing Vector Control on Thursday nights from 6-11pm. This process includes, treating ditches and small bodies of water with microbial briquettes. These briquettes slowly control the mosquito larvae before pupation due to the sustained release nature of the briquettes.
According to Paul Coghlan, Brownwood/Brown County Sanitation Inspector, the briquettes (pictured above) are safe for all other wildlife, and only affect the mosquito larvae. Once the briquettes have been placed, they cover an area of up to 100 square feet, and keep the mosquitoes away for up to 3 weeks.
“Last year I only had to go out once, and this year I have been out four times,” states Coghlan, “I would rather have rain and do this every week.”
To help control mosquito breeding citizens can do several things, including:
- Remove trash, bottles and debris holding water
- Clean clogged gutters
- Flush bird baths and fountains weekly
- Drain flower pots and other garden containers
- Drain water from children’s wading pools and toys
- Fix leaky faucets where water stands
- Remove old tires that hold water
- Fill holes and depressions in yards
- Clean debris out of drainage easements
- Eliminate standing water on flat roofs
- Adjust tarps over woodpiles, grills and boats so water doesn’t stand in the tarp
- Keep vegetation trimmed low
There are many ways residents and families can protect themselves from mosquitoes this summer. To reduce the risk of getting bitten remember the four Ds :
- Dusk to Dawn – This is the time when mosquitoes, likely to carry infection, are most active. Stay indoors from dusk to dawn whenever possible.
- Drain- Standing water in your yard and neighborhood, old tires, flowerpots, clogged drain gutters, bird baths and small pools can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Dress- In light colored long sleeves and pants when you are outside, especially in mosquito infested areas.
- Deet- If you are going outside when mosquitoes are most active, make sure you apply insect repellent that contains DEET –Read and follow label instructions, spray both exposed skin and clothing with repellent when outdoors.
