LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As people spend more time outside as weather warms up around the Louisville area, local health officials are sharing ways to stay away from mosquitoes.
A thousand mosquitoes can be born in a small pool of water within a week. That's why Matthew Vanderpool spent much of Monday setting mosquito surveillance traps throughout the city. Vanderpool is an environmental health specialist with Louisville Metro Department of Health and Public Wellness.
"As temperatures increase that decreases the amount of time for mosquitoes to go through their life cycle," Vanderpool said. "So as things get hotter, we will see them faster."
Last year, Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness treated 14,500 catch basins to eliminate mosquito larvae, along with 8,982 miles of swampy areas and large areas of land known to collect standing water. The health department also placed 148 mosquito traps around the city and country.
The health department is trapping mosquitoes and testing them for diseases like West Nile virus, St. Louis Encephalitis virus, La Cosse Encephalitis and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus. While some insects may have the diseases, it doesn't necessarily mean it will infect humans easily.
"The mosquitoes that we see in the springtime that carry West Nile virus, those are actually mosquitoes that made it through the entire winter and then are coming back out," Vanderpool said.
People are encouraged to use several preventive measures to slow an influx of mosquitoes in the area.
- Drain - mosquito breeding grounds can be prevented by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, toys, pet water dishes, discarded tires and drain birdbaths on a regular basis
- Defend - people can use insect repellents when going outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection.
- Dress - people should wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed-toed shoes when outside, and avoid perfumes and scented lotions.
To make a complaint about mosquitos in neighborhoods, call (502) 574-5000.
"Small containers of water are generally going to breed those black and white striped mosquitoes that bite you in the day time," Vanderpool said. "Most mosquitoes are going to bite you in the evening."
Related stories:
- More mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in other areas of Louisville
- Mosquito fogging to take place next week in Louisville's Iroquois neighborhood
- Louisville experts say Kentuckiana-area should not be overly concerned about malaria risk
- Louisville health department offers 5 tips to protect yourself from mosquitoes this summer
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