San Diego

Mosquito Season Is Fast-Approaching; Tips on How to Protect Your Home

Free standing water, commonly seen in backyards, are mosquito breeding grounds.

The season of mosquito-borne illnesses is back and San Diego County officials want to make sure residents are protecting themselves and their homes against the viruses that mosquitos carry.

County officials say it's important to know the signs of where mosquitos like to breed and preventing them from coming into contact with pets or humans.

Mosquitos that can carry the West Nile virus and the Zika virus love to live and breed near people.

Free standing water, commonly seen in backyards, are mosquito breeding grounds. Dumping out the water is one way to protect your home from mosquitos.

β€œYou just want to get rid of all your water sites β€” even if you have dogs that drink out of [bowls] β€” you want to dump that out every week,” says Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, County Deputy Public Health Officer at San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

County workers say that it doesn’t take much water for mosquitos to congregate – it can only take a thimble full of water for the dangerous aedes aeqypti mosquito to breed.

The aedes aeypti mosquito, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, is capable of carrying and transmitting the Zika virus.

82 people in San Diego County travelled abroad last year and came home infected with the Zika virus.

Last year, workers hand sprayed in neighborhoods such as Chula Vista, Spring Valley, and South Park to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

South Park residents voiced their concerns at the time about the chemicals being used in the spray.

For pool owners, another way to combat against mosquito breeding is getting some fish and placing them in the pool; the county is offering free fish that eat mosquito larvae. Visit their website for a list of locations.

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