St. Lucie County Mosquito Control Urges Residents to Help Fight the Bite

St. Lucie County Mosquito Control Urges Residents to Help Fight the Bite

1. LUCIE COUNTY – Due to continuing warm temperatures and rainfall, nuisance and disease-carrying mosquitoes remain a concern to residents and visitors in St. Lucie County. The St. Lucie Mosquito Control District encourages everyone to remain vigilant. They want you to  take precautionary measures as the mosquito threat persists well into the winter season.

As part of its wide-ranging mosquito detection and protection program, the district conducts routine surveillance for St. Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile and other viruses. St. Lucie County uses chicken flocks as part of an early warning program to detect the presence of those viruses. There are currently no confirmed human cases in the county.

In response to both the disease threats and increased nuisance levels, Mosquito Control utilizes fog-truck treatments throughout the district as well as daily surveillance and localized treatments.

St. Lucie County reminds residents to do their part in reducing breeding areas, including practicing the “tip and toss” method of emptying containers that collect standing water around their homes and yards. Even a bottle cap of standing water can provide a breeding habitat for mosquitos. To prevent mosquito bites, residents are reminded to wear light clothing when jogging or walking in the evenings, as well as using mosquito repellant with DEET.

For more information on Mosquito Control efforts please contact the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control Hotline at 772-462-1692. The most up-to-date information on fogging operations is also posted online: www.stlucieco.gov/mosquito.