Guest Post: 8 Tips For Staying Safe from Mosquitos

This post was written by Mosquito Joe, an advertising partner of MyActiveChild.com Hampton Roads.

By Tracey Willmott, Mosquito Joe www.mosquitojoe.com With our 100% satisfaction guarantee you’ve got nothing to lose, except mosquitoes. Let’s make outside fun again!

We all know that being bitten by mosquitoes is no fun, leaving you itchy and irritated for days.  It also may come as no surprise that Hampton Roads ranked 14 out of 50 on this year’s list of Top Mosquito Cities published by Orkin. While the beautiful ocean, harbors, and rivers are some of our area’s most distinguishable features, combined with the warm summer weather they create perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. No wonder we were so close to the top of the list! 

The annoyance your family suffers from mosquitoes and other biting insects can be more than inconvenient – it can be downright dangerous. Insect-borne illnesses are on the rise in the West, causing severe concern.

Zika Virus is making headlines most this year, spreading rapidly throughout South and Central America. So far, 312 cases have been confirmed in the United States, although none of them originated here. The virus has officially been linked to microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome, two neurological birth defects that can be transmitted through a pregnant mother infected with Zika.

While Zika virus might hold the spotlight this summer, other mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile and dengue fever are also active dangers. As of January 2016, 48 states reported West Nile infections, with over 2,000 confirmed cases. Interestingly, most people (80%) infected with West Nile do not exhibit any symptoms. Those who do show signs often have fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, and rash. Severe cases can result in encephalitis or meningitis, but those are rare (less than 1% of those infected). 

Unfortunately, there is no treatment or vaccine for Zika or West Nile virus at this time, so the best way to protect yourself is to guard against mosquito bites.

What can you do about these buzzing pests to make sure your yard is a safe place? You can start by making sure mosquitoes don’t have places to breed. These tips will help you battle the bloodthirsty pests flying around your yard:

8 Tips For Staying Safe from Mosquitos

1.     Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so regularly empty ponds, bird baths, fountains, plant pots, buckets, barrels, tarps, kid’s toys, pet water dishes or anywhere else that water may gather.

2.     Clean out gutters to avoid standing water. Examine them for clogs and damage that would cause water to collect.

3.     Drill holes in tire swings, trashcans or recycle bins so water drains out. 

4.     Use soil to fill in low areas in lawns and landscaped areas where rainwater may collect and stand for more than seven days.

5.     Keep swimming pools clean, properly circulated and filtered. Keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they are not being used.

6.     Repair leaky outdoor faucets.

7.     Cut grass and shrubs short, as adult mosquitoes gather to rest in shady, cool areas. Keep your yard weed-free and avoid overgrown vegetation.

8.     Professional Mosquito Control allows trained technicians to treat your yard with a barrier sprays using synthetic products, or all-natural alternatives.

Summertime is the season of patios and decks, grilling, seemingly endless yard work, and spending afternoons in the pool. In our opinion, there’s no better place in the country to enjoy the summer months than right here in Hampton Roads!