Pinellas County and the Health Department say they are working together to combat the disease.

PINELLAS COUNTY – In light of an ongoing investigation relating to a non-travel related case of Zika virus, Pinellas County Mosquito Control and the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas are reminding residents of important prevention tips as they continue joint efforts against mosquito-borne illnesses.

Mosquito Control technicians are aggressively treating known breeding areas by ground and by air, as well as responding to calls from citizens. They have responded to over 500 service calls since the beginning of the month – with an average response time of 24 hours or less.

“We continue to urge our residents to do their part in helping to reduce the mosquito population,” said Rob Krueger, Entomology and Education Support Specialist, Pinellas County Mosquito Control. “Dumping outdoor containers that hold standing water is the main step our citizens can take in the fight against Zika.”

Additional steps residents can take include:

• Flush birdbaths and wading pools weekly.
  Flush ornamental bromeliads or treat with BTI, a biological larvicide available at home stores.
  Clean roof gutters, which can become clogged and hold water.
  Change the water in outdoor pet dishes regularly.
  Keep pools and spas chlorinated and filtered.
  Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish.
  Cover rain barrels with screening.
  Check for standing water under houses, near plumbing drains, under air conditioner drip areas, and around septic tanks and heat pumps.
  Eliminate standing water, improve drainage and prevent future puddling.

Mosquito bites can irritate skin and potentially spread disease. Residents are urged to protect their skin from mosquito bites when outdoors by wearing mosquito repellent (products containing DEET, IR3535, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus) and loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants. These simple preventive measures can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in Pinellas County and minimize mosquito-borne diseases.

For information about Pinellas County Mosquito Control, go to pinellascounty.org. To place a Mosquito Control service call, contact (727) 464-7503.

Zika | Mosquito Control | Pinellas County | Pinellas Health Department | TB Reporter

#Zika #MosquitoControl #PinellasCounty #PinellasHealthDepartment #TBReporter