Information courtesy of the Alachua County Health Department. The mission of the Alachua County Health Department is to promote, protect, maintain and improve health and safety of all the citizens and visitors.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is advising the public that the types of mosquitoes that are capable of transmitting diseases such as West Nile Virus continue to be present in very large numbers. “Our surveillance system indicates that the disease vector mosquito population is at a six-year high for September,” stated Paul Myers, Administrator of the Alachua County Health Department (ACHD). “These mosquitoes will continue to be a threat for disease transmission until the first hard freeze.”
The ACHD reminds residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may cause encephalitis disease. The ACHD continues surveillance and prevention efforts and encourages everyone to take basic precautions to help limit exposure by following the department of health recommendations.
DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where water has collected.
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other unused items.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls once or twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
COVER skin with clothing or repellent.
- CLOTHING – Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves.
- REPELLENT – Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus and IR3535 are effective.
COVER doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
- Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches and patios.
For more information, please visit the Alachua County Health Department website.