Mosquitoes
Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
Mosquito-borne illnesses include:
- West Nile Virus
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis
- Chikungunya
- Dengue
- Zika
Other mosquito information
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Tips to Reduce Exposure to Mosquito Bites and Illness
- Avoid being outside without protection during the early dawn and twilight hours.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants while outdoors.
- Use mosquito repellent that contains DEET or an equivalent when outside and use caution when applying to children.
- Most mosquito complaints from homeowners can be traced to the Asian tiger mosquito that is one of North Carolina’s worst mosquito pests.
- Don't forget to ask your veterinarian how to protect your dogs from heartworms (carried by mosquito bites) and your horses and donkeys from mosquito illnesses with vaccines.
Some Suggestions to Keep Mosquitoes from Breeding:
- Recycle or throw away trash and unwanted items.
- Tip and Toss! Prevent useful items from filling with water by covering them, turning them upside down, storing indoors, etc.
- Clean leaf-clogged gutters.
- Check rain gutters, downspouts and underground drains to make sure they are angled correctly and does not hold water between rains. Provide rain barrels have a cover that will prevent mosquitoes from entering and breeding.
- Change water weekly in outdoor containers like pet bowls, flower pot dishes, or bird baths so that mosquito larvae won't have time to become adults.
- Use mosquito dunks available at most home improvement stores.