With all the recent reports of mosquito-transmitted, blood-borne viruses, one local pest control expert says there are some simple practices you can follow to reduce your risk of raising a scourge of mosquitoes.
Malaria in Florida. West Nile virus in Ohio. Spotted Rocky Mountain Fever and Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Michigan. Public health warnings of blood-borne viruses, transmitted by mosquitoes might be increasing, but there are simple ways to decrease your chances of getting bitten.
Josh Kitchell is the owner of Mosquito Mob in Michigan, a pest control company, and says all homeowners should try prevention. Kitchell said get rid of any standing water in your area and that includes old tires, tarps, bird baths, and clogged rain gutters.
“I know it may sound silly, but your (rain) gutters. Clogged gutters. Well, what do you think that they’re going to hold? Standing water. And within that standing water you’re going to have a ton of larvae.”
Kitchell says if conditions are right, mosquito eggs can survive several years before getting submerged in water and hatching. Getting rid of standing water reduces that possibility.
