Everyone knows mosquitoes are pests, but did you know they can carry viruses such as West Nile, Dengue, and Zika? The best way to avoid these viruses is to avoid being bit by mosquitoes. Avoiding mosquitoes may be difficult, especially in the summer months; but if you can control them, you can lower the risk of being bitten.
To Control Mosquitoes Inside of Your Home:
- Keep windows and doors shut
- Install or repair screens on all windows
- Use air conditioning to keep humidity levels low
- Use an indoor flying insect spray to kill mosquitoes where they rest
To Control Mosquitoes Outside of Your Home:
- Tightly cover water storage containers such as rain barrels and buckets
- Use larvicides to treat large containers of water that can’t be dumped out
- Use an outdoor flying insect spray in dark, humid areas, in garages, and on patio furniture
- Repair all cracks or gaps in septic tanks
- Clean clogged roof gutters
- Cover any open vents or plumbing pipes with wire mesh small enough to keep out mosquitoes
You can prevent mosquitoes in your yard by removing all sources of standing water. Look around your yard once a week and dump out any items that are holding water. Some of the most common items that hold water are:
- Saucers under plants
- Buckets
- Pet dishes
- Birdbaths
- Old car tires
- Fountains
- Trash can covers
- Lawn furniture
- Children’s toys
- Rain barrels
- Tarps
- Ice buckets
Zika Virus
Zika virus is a disease that is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, or can be sexually transmitted. Some of the common symptoms of the virus are fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, red eyes, and conjunctivitis, and they usually only last for several days to a week. People may not realize they have been infected because the symptoms are not severe, and there have only been a few rare cases of death. The Zika virus, however, can be dangerous for pregnant woman. The virus can spread from a mother to her fetus during pregnancy and cause serious birth defects such as microcephaly. Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than normal, which often leads to having a smaller brain that may not develop properly. To be tested for Zika, speak to your doctor about having a blood or urine test done, however, at this time there is no specific medicine for the Zika virus.
Call Pied Piper Pest Control today to learn more about their insect prevention services. (508) 366-1333