LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News are among the top 50 cities in the country with mosquitoes, according to USA Today.
There are about 30 mosquito species in the Hampton Roads area, most of which are potential carriers of human viral diseases, according to the 633rd Aeromedical Squadron Public Health Office.
Keep the following tips in mind to help reduce mosquito bites this summer:
1. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
2. Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
3. Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-methane-diol. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Install or repair and use window and door screens. Do not leave doors propped open.
5. Once a week, empty, scrub, turn over, cover or throw out any items that hold water such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers or trash containers.
6. Tightly cover water storage containers such as buckets, cisterns or rain barrels, so mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
7. Use an outdoor flying insect spray where mosquitoes rest. Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas such as under patio furniture, or under the carport or garage. When using insecticides, always follow the label instructions.
8. If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
9. Keep mosquitoes from laying eggs inside your home. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like vases and flowerpot saucers. Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid places like under the sink, in closets, under furniture, or in the laundry room.
10. Do not tamper with any mosquito traps that have been placed throughout the base and off base housing.
For more information, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/DiseasesConditions/ or the state website at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/zika-virus-update/
For any questions, concerns or additional information, please contact the 633rd AMDS Public Health Office at 757-764-6731.