Release Date: March 17, 2008
Contact: Christine Patmon, Metro Health Public Relations Manager, 207-8638
Get a Jump on Spring Cleaning and Mosquito Season
Join Vector Control in eliminating breeding sites to cut the risk of West Nile Virus
With mosquito season two weeks away and warmer and wetter weather descending on San Antonio, Metro Health encourages residents to get an early start on outdoor spring cleaning to curtail a population boom of mosquitoes and the risk of West Nile Virus. Mosquito season typically begins in April across the state and brings with it the dangers of the virus. West Nile Virus is carried by some species of mosquitoes and can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease.
Mosquitoes need standing or calm water to complete their life cycle and can breed in as small as a thimble of water. As part of a year-round program, Vector Control is looking for mosquito breeding sites in public drainage systems, parks, and other public property. Crews also have been removing tires from public areas illegally used as dumping sites.
“We have been treating areas with standing water and there are larvae present. So, we could see a population boom any day now. We all need to work together and be proactive to try to control it,” said Vector Control Manager Leonard Mechler.
Recent rainfall in our area may have led to water collection in and around yards and homes. Residents are asked to look around their property and follow these spring cleaning tips to prevent mosquito breeding.
• Clean and/or repair rain gutters. They will hold water if they are full of leaves or if the slope is incorrect.
• Empty the water from containers such as buckets, soda cans, pet bowls, toys and small wading pools. Remove or invert them so they will not collect rain water.
• Fill any tree holes with sand so they will not hold water.
• Use tight-fitting screens on rainwater collection containers.
• Remove all old tires from your premise and dispose of them properly.
• Change bird bath water every three (3) days.
To report a mosquito or rodent problem on public property or for more information, call Vector Control at 207-8853.
