Mosquito bites are more than an itchy annoyance, they can pose serious threats to your health. National Mosquito Control Awareness Week is recognized June 18 – 24, 2023. With summer approaching, mosquito experts urge Riverside County residents to take action to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
While vector control agencies work diligently to control mosquito populations, which includes treating communal areas, mosquito control is a shared responsibility. Residents of Riverside County can take the following action to help eliminate mosquitoes from their community:
- Apply insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, including DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535, to clothes and exposed skin according to label instructions. Repellents keep mosquitoes from biting. It is important to follow EPA and CDC guidelines for the safe use of repellents on children.
- Dress in long sleeves and pants, especially if outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes that can spread West Nile virus are most active.
- Install screens on windows and doors and keep them in good repair to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
- Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including in flowerpots, old tires, buckets, pet dishes, and trash cans. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in very small amounts of standing water.
- Repair leaking faucets and broken sprinklers that can contribute to standing water around your home.
- Clean rain gutters clogged with leaves, which can also contribute to standing water.
For additional information on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases, please visit the California Department of Public Health Mosquitoes and Mosquito-Borne Diseases webpage.
For additional information on protecting yourself and your community from mosquitoes, visit Riverside County Environmental Health Vector Control Mosquito Surveillance and Treatment webpage.
