Community Corner
Hackettstown: National Mosquito Control Awareness Week-Tips
'Fourth of July is just around the corner, but itchy mosquito bites may already be a problem in your neighborhood.'
June 23, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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LOCAL MEDIA CONTACT: NATIONAL MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Gruener, Superintendent AMCA Technical Advisor
Find out what's happening in Hackettstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Warren County Mosquito Control Commission Joseph Conlon
Telephone (908) 453-3585 Telephone (904) 215-9660
jgruener@warrencountymosquito.org conlonamcata@gmail.com
FIGHT THE BITE
NATIONAL MOSQUITO CONTROL AWARENESS WEEK JUNE 21-27
Fourth of July is just around the corner, but itchy mosquito bites may already be a problem in your neighborhood. In honor of their upcoming National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (June 21—June 27, 2020), the Warren County Mosquito Control Commission and the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) have tips to help you declare independence from those pesky blood-suckers.
Pools are open and grills are going, but are you cooking up a breeding ground for mosquitoes? Standing water and dark clothing are two things that attract them. AMCA recommends people follow the three D’s to keep mosquitoes away:
• Drain: Empty out water containers at least once per week
• Dress: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
• Defend: Properly apply an approved repellent such as DEET, picaridin, IR 3535 or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
Warren County Mosquito Control Commission continually monitors the known mosquito production sites throughout the County; however, we need your help to monitor your own backyard! Mosquitoes absolutely need standing water to complete their life cycle; standing water left by recent rains will provide plenty of sites for them to develop into biting adults. Buckets, cans, rain barrels, plant saucers; literally anything that can hold water can produce thousands of mosquitoes in your own backyard. Make your yard a mosquito-free zone by: disposing of any tires; drilling holes in the bottom of recycling containers; clearing roof gutters of debris; cleaning pet water dishes and bird baths regularly; checking and emptying children’s toys; maintaining swimming pools and keeping swimming pool covers from holding water.
Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. Mosquito bites can spread diseases such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine encephalitis. “We already have the mosquitoes. We are continually importing the diseases they carry,” said Joseph Conlon, AMCA Technical Advisor. “We must be prepared to prevent their spread throughout our public health landscape – and this requires safe, effective, sustained mosquito control and awareness in the community.”
The Warren County Mosquito Control Commission uses an integrated approach to mosquito control, including public education, mosquito eating fish and other biocontrols, source reduction, water management, and the judicious use of EPA registered insecticides.
The Warren County Mosquito Control Commission invites you to learn more about mosquito control and its rich history through the upcoming week by liking Facebook pages of Warren County , the American Mosquito Control Association, the New Jersey Mosquito Control Association and visiting the Commission’s website at :
http://warrencountymosquito.org/
This press release was produced by Town of Hackettstown. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
