Mosquitos - Environmental Health - Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

Environmental Health

Reduce mosquito breeding ground

Empty containers that can hold water
Remove old tires
Repair leaky faucets
Keep gutters clean and in good repair
Stock ponds with fish that eat mosquito larvae
Fill in potholes and puddles
Change water in birdbaths, pet bowls and wading pools every 3-4 days

Prevent mosquito bites

Wear long sleeve shirts and pants
Avoid outdoor activities near dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active
Repair torn door and window screens
Use mosquito repellents

What type of mosquito repellent should you use?

Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, two have demonstrated a higher degree of efficacy in the peer-reviewed, scientific literature. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:

The CDC recommends you choose one of these:

A repellent containing 35% DEET
Picaridin
Oil of lemon eucalyptus, a plant based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

For more information on mosquitoes and suggested repellents, visit the CDC web site:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm