If you’ve tuned into the news lately, you likely stumbled upon a story about the recent outbreak of West Nile Virus that is spreading across the country. The Center for Disease Control and many pest control professionals believe that this year could be the highest numbers seen in many years of West Nile cases and deaths. West Nile Virus is spread from the bite of an infected mosquito and since there are infected mosquitoes all across the country, it’s time to raise awareness and learn how to prevent the continued spread of this potentially fatal disease.
Almost half of the cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Texas and other southern states but that does not mean that New England is exempt. States in New England including Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts have tested multiple batches of mosquitoes showing positive results for West Nile. Although not all states have confirmed humans with the virus at this point, these positive tests mean that mosquito bite prevention and mosquito control need to be taken very seriously.
With the upcoming fall months, mosquitoes will still be around for a while in the northern states. But thankfully there are many ways that you can prevent mosquitoes from infesting your property, biting you and your guests, and potentially spreading West Nile Virus.
- Empty any sources of stagnant water from the property at least once a week. This includes bird baths and any other objects on the property that accumulate with water.
- Keep pools and hot tubs covered when not in use.
- Dig ditches until water is flowing through them, not stagnant.
- Clean out gutters on the home to be sure that they do not get clogged with debris.
- Always wear protective clothing that covers the skin from mosquito bites when in an area known to have mosquitoes.
- Fix any leaky pipes or air conditioning units that are causing a steady drip.
- Try to avoid the times when mosquitoes are most active which includes dawn and dusk.
- Apply insect repellent containing DEET when you plan to be in an area with a lot of mosquitoes.
For many people mosquitoes are just an annoying pest but the truth is that now more than previous years we need to look at mosquitoes as a major threat to our health. With the spread of West Nile Virus in New England and surrounding areas, it is time to up the ante on mosquito control.
Thankfully for residents living in New England, Modern Pest Services offers a complete mosquito control program that helps reduce the breeding sources of mosquitoes and promoted long term mosquito prevention. To learn more about Modern’s mosquito control as well as ways to prevent the spread the spread of West Nile Virus, please contact us today at 1-800-323-7378!