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National Mosquito Control
Awareness Week
 

 
Daily Bread
The LORD...will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:9-11
Find out how to “fight the bite”

The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department will observe National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 25-30, 2007.

Mosquitoes spread a number of dangerous diseases to humans, including West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis and malaria.

West Nile virus was first introduced into the United States in 1999 and now has spread to almost every state, including Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.

In Shelby County during 2006, a total of 10 cases of West Nile virus were reported. While West Nile virus can cause serious illness and even death, there were no deaths due to West Nile virus in Shelby County last year.

Mosquito control specialists with the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department’s Vector Control Program fight mosquitoes and the diseases they carry by providing surveillance of mosquito populations, treatments to eliminate mosquito larvae (larviciding) and treatments to kill adult mosquitoes (adulticiding).

Eliminating mosquito-breeding sites around homes and businesses is crucial to controlling the mosquito population. Anything that collects rainwater is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The Health Department encourages all residents to:

  • Clean rain gutters and downspouts
  • Repair failed septic systems
  • Repair leaky outside faucets
  • Discard old tires or store inside where rain water can not collect inside of tires
  • Empty flower pots, including the “drip plates” underneath, tin cans, buckets, children’s toys and any container that might collect water, especially after rainfall
  • Empty, clean and refill birdbaths and small wading pools weekly

To find out more about mosquitoes and what you can do to “fight the bite,” call the Vector Control Program at 901-324-5547.

Published: June 28, 2007
Source: Memphis and Shelby County Health Department



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