As the weather is becoming warmer and rain occurs, the mosquito population increases. All of us would agree that mosquitos are enormous pests, but they can make you sick.  The Brownwood / Brown County Health Department is encouraging protection from mosquito bites to prevent the spread of disease. Diseases spread by mosquitos include viruses like West Nile, Chickungunya, Dengue, and Zika.  Although these viruses are not common in our area, the threat does exist and can be serious because there are no medications for Chickungunya, Dengue, or Zika.  The best protection is preventing mosquito bites.

Protect yourself:

1. Wear insect repellent. When used as directed, insect repellents are safe and the best way to protect yourself against mosquito bites. Insect repellants are safe for children and pregnant women. Please note that higher active ingredient levels will provide longer protection. Types of repellent include:

• DEET:   Cutter, OFF!, and Skintastic contains DEET.
• Picaridin (KBR 3023, Bayrepel or icaridin): Picaridin is found in Cutter Advanced, Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus.
• Oil of lemon eucalayptus (OLE) or PMD: Repel contains OLE.
• IR3535: Found in Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Expeditation and SkinSmart.

1. Cover up: Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants whenever possible.
2. Keep mosquitoes outside by keeping doors and windows shut and use the air conditioning when you can. Keep screens in good condition and make sure air conditioning units are not holding water that can breed mosquitos.

Protect your family and home.

1. Drain any standing water at least weekly. Standing water as small as a bottle cap can breed mosquitos. Look for standing water in items such as toys, tires, gardening tools, bases of potted plants, or storm gutters.
2. Keep yards mowed and well maintained to remove mosquito habitat. Clean up areas that could provide a good environment for mosquitos to breed and live in. Leaves, tree limbs, junk, or trash piles should be removed. These items should not be raked into streets, ditches, or other drain type areas because this can add to the mosquito issue by clogging drainage ways.
3. Maintain pet water, swimming pool, water troughs, or yard ponds, and repair leaking outside faucets.
4. Crawl spaces, attic vents, rain barrels, open water tanks, or cisterns should be covered with screening.
5. Treat front and back door areas of homes with residual insecticides if mosquitoes are abundant nearby. If mosquito problems persist, use pesticide applications for vegetation around the home.

Community Action

1. Continue with mosquito spraying and larvacide treatment of standing water.
2. Initiate monitoring and surveillance of mosquito activity.
3. Encourage citizens to report standing water, tall grass, trash piles, or other areas that would encourage mosquito breeding.
4. Provide information concerning mosquito related diseases and prevention.

Please help us prevent mosquito related illness. For additional information visit us at the Brownwood / Brown County Health Department, 510 E. Lee Street, Brownwood Texas 76801 or Call 325-646-0554.  For brush or bulky item trash collection, call 325-643-4200.

Additional information concerning mosquito related illness can be found at: http://www.brownwoodtexas.gov/203/Public-Health-Preparedness

http://www.texaszika.org/

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/outdoor/mosquito-borne/default.html