RALEIGH– North Carolina public health officials are reminding residents to “tip and toss” outdoor containers with standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
After the heavy rains and floods of Hurricane Matthew, the Department of Public Safety issued a reminder Tuesday morning that standing water is a prime breeding site for many types of mosquitoes. Tossing out the water is an effective and easy way to reduce mosquito’s ability to breed near communities.
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“Some species of mosquitoes breed effectively in small containers of standing water,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Carl Williams. “Minimizing the habitat for these mosquitoes and reducing exposure to them is essential.”
In an ongoing survey across the state, mosquitos carrying Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, have not been found in North Carolina.
Officials recommend following basic steps while cleaning up after Hurricane Matthew:
- Clean up trash and leave around your home or rain gutters and keep vegetation trimmed and off the ground so mosquitos don’t have resting habitats near people.
- Use mosquito repellent containing DEET (or equivalent) on exposed skin and wear clothes treated with permethrin, a synthetic insecticide.
- Mosquito-proof your home by installing repairing screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos outside.
