Charleston County Issues Mosquito Spray Alert

Charleston County's Mosquito Control Division will be taking to the air to fight the biting pests this week beginning Tuesday.

Between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. the MCD's helicopter will be flying low over areas of Charleston County targeting standing water where mosquitos lay eggs and their larvae develop before they sprout wings. 

The MCD aerial spraying program treats standing water after any significant rain event or especially high tides in an effort to cut down on the numbers of mosquitos buzzing in the Lowcountry air.

Adult mosquitos are also targeted by the MCD through a ground spraying program that is ongoing throughout the summer months. A list of areas that will be sprayed from the ground is updated daily on the MCD website.

"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 in a press release. "Mosquitoes carry 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."

Residents can help fight the mosquito problem by eliminating standing water around their homes and businesses. Bird baths and pet water dishes that remain outdoors need to be flushed regularly with new water from a hose, and any containers that can hold water should be turned over so that the water cannot collect inside of them.

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.