Summer is here and that means those damn mosquitos are coming back ... with more disease for us to worry about.

Mosquitos can carry several diseases including Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue and the West Nile virus. Last year, in fact, there were 16 confirmed West Nile cases in El Paso and two people died as a result of the illness. The El Paso Herald - Post published the following precautions:

  • DEET – Use insect repellents that contain DEET when outdoors.
  • DRESS – Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
  • DUSK & DAWN – Although mosquitoes associated with Zika can be active throughout the day, residents should take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours (from dusk to dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
  • DRAIN – Drain standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, and birdbaths. After rains or lawn watering, residents are asked to “tip and toss” any standing water they find outside.

Those who irrigate their land or, for whatever reason, have large areas of standing water on their property are encouraged to treat the water with a larvicide. For more information on larvicides and how to use them, click here.

If you see a large body of water and/or spot a mosquito breeding area, you can report it by calling 311. People who allow water to accumulate can be cited and fined by the city. For more info, click here . You can also visit the El Paso Health Department website.

 

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