Wet Summer Prolongs Mosquito Season

Charleston County Government’s Mosquito Control Division will be conducting spray operations by air over the next several days to target areas of standing water for mosquitolarvae. The public can expect to see a low-flying helicopter and airplane beginning Tuesday, Sept. 10 between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Be aware that these operations will continue each week through November and especially after significant rainfall or extra high tides.

Citizens should expect to see aircraft treating for mosquito larvae in standing water any time there has been a significant rain event or high tide from now through November.

Charleston County treats mosquito larvae in standing water, which becomes breeding grounds, from the air. Adult mosquitoes are treated by ground spraying. Ground spraying throughout the county is ongoing this time of year. The schedule for spraying on the ground is available online at http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/PublicWorks/MosquitoProgram.htm#schedules.

The public can help “fight the bite” by eliminating mosquito egg-laying sites around their homes in order to help reduce the number of mosquitoes in their neighborhoods.

The young mosquitoes, or larvae, cannot live and become adult mosquitoes without water. So the key is to get rid of the containers that hold water around homes, yards, schools and businesses. The public must help by flushing water out of birdbaths and pet dishes with a garden hose. Keep anything that has potential to hold water, such as toys, buckets, cans and bottles, turned over and emptied.

"The first thing we need to know is where mosquitoes breed and how they live their life cycles," said Donna Odom, Charleston County Mosquito Control Superintendent. "Mosquitoescarry diseases including West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, Malaria, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Heartworms. The public has to be an integral part of our fight against mosquito-borne diseases. A great deal of requests we respond to, we find that people are actually breeding mosquitoes in their own yard."

Working together, Charleston County Mosquito Control and the citizens of Charleston County can reduce the mosquito population so that residents can continue to enjoy outside activities and minimize the occurrence of mosquito-carried disease.

Bee Keepers, Organic Farmers, and citizens with chemical sensitivities, should contact Charleston County Mosquito Control at (843) 202-7880 to be added to the County's spray notification list. Citizens are reminded to vaccinate their horses to protect them from mosquito borne diseases, and provide preventative heartworm treatment for their pets.

WAYS THE PUBLIC CAN HELP REDUCE MOSQUITOES:

• Every three days, flush birdbaths, potted plant saucers and other containers that hold water
• Keep yard clean and cut
• Remove items from yard that hold water and are not needed outside
• Keep lawn and gardening equipment indoors
• Fix leaky faucets
• Keep gutters clean
• Fill in tree holes with sand or concrete
• Change pet water dishes regularly
• Chlorinate pools and clean the pool and filters
• Add fish to ponds

MOSQUITO FACTS:

• A mosquito's life revolves around water; a female mosquito lays her eggs in water or in areas expected to flood.
• Once they hatch, a larvae mosquito must remain in water until it emerges as an adult approximately one to two weeks later.
• Mosquitoes can become infected with the West Nile Virus when they feed on infected birds.
• Mosquitoes can transmit heartworm disease from an infected dog or cat to a healthy dog or cat.

TO REQUEST SERVICE OR INFORMATION

• To request service or to get information on Charleston County Mosquito Control activities, call (843) 202-7880.
• Bee Keepers, Organic Farmers, and citizens with chemical sensitivities, should contact Charleston County Mosquito Control at (843) 202-7880 to be added to the County's spray notification list.
• For information on educational programs and presentations available from Charleston County Mosquito Control, call (843) 202-7886.
• To see more information online, visit the County's Mosquito Control Web page at http://www.charlestoncounty.org/Departments/PublicWorks/MosquitoProgram.htm.