Greene County News
SPRINGFIELD – Sanitarians for the Clark County Combined Health District have found the Aedes albopictus mosquito in Springfield and Clark County area. The Aedes albopictus may potentially transmit Zika virus, although it has not yet been implicated in the transmission of human cases in Ohio.
CCCHD Sanitarians have been working with the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) since June of this year to trap mosquitos. Traps are set up two to three times per week in various areas of Clark County and Springfield. The mosquitos are then collected and sent to the Ohio Department of Health to be identified and tested for West Nile. This specific mosquito has been identified in two locations in Green Township and three locations within the City of Springfield.
Citizens should be reminded that as the weather becomes cooler, it is still important to protect them and their family from mosquitos, according to the CCCHD. Until the first freeze hits, individuals are still at risk and need to continue protecting themselves.
The best way to avoid the Zika virus infection and other mosquito-borne diseases is to prevent mosquito bites:
– When outdoors, wear Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents. All EPA-registered insect repellents have been evaluated for effectiveness. Always follow the product label instructions.
– Unlike many mosquitos, the Asian tiger mosquitos are most active during the day and are most common in shade conditions. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants where these mosquitoes are active.
– Make sure to have good screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos out of the home.
– Yellow fever mosquitos and Asian tiger mosquitos are both container-breeding mosquitos. They do not breed in ponds, puddles or marshes. Remove their breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths every other day. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
For more information, contact the CCCHD at 937-390-5600 or visit its website at www.ccchd.com.
