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ST. CHARLES (KMOV.com) – The people of St. Charles County have started fighting mosquito vectors of disease with a new program.
Residents and the Environmental Protection and Environmental Protection Division team up to help "block the bite" and reduce the risk of exposure to disease-carrying mosquitoes in St. Charles.
Caroline McEwen, head of the St. Charles County Mosquito Control Program, says joint efforts are needed to control mosquitoes in the community.
"When residents take action to protect themselves and eliminate breeding grounds from their homes, our staff can focus on reducing the population of disease-carrying pests in our community," McEwen said.
The staff of the St. Charles County Mosquito Control Program treats the common habitat areas with a larvicide to minimize the development of adult insects and sprays an insecticide on the targeted areas to reduce populations. In addition, staff set up traps around the community to study the local mosquito population.
The division then examines the insects to determine the species and the eventual presence of a disease. This is important because knowing the types of mosquitoes allows staff to better treat populations because different species behave differently and are active at different times of the day.
Residents of unincorporated counties of St. Charles or those living in Augusta, Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Flint Hill, Lake St. Louis, Sioux Portage, St. Paul, Weldon Spring, Weldon Spring Heights and Wentzville are required to use The Division of Health and Protection's online portal to request treatment for harmful mosquitoes.
Residents residing within the boundaries of O'Fallon, St. Charles and St. Peters must contact their respective city hall for treatment reasons.
Cases of serious illness resulting from mosquito bites are rare, but West Nile virus and other diseases are present in Missouri and in other parts of the country.
Residents should take precautions in:
- Use of an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridine, IR355 or lemon eucalyptus oil on the outside.
- Wear light and loose clothing, long sleeves and shirts to minimize exposure
- Eliminate potential breeding areas of insects around homes
- Garbage removal from areas where water is deposited for more than five days, including gutters, fountains, ponds and bird baths
Pet owners should also do their part to protect their animals from mosquito-borne diseases. Residents should consult with their veterinarians about heartworm programs and purchase insect control products specifically designed for animals.
Pet owners should contact their vets if their pet exhibits any of the following unusual behaviors:
- Stiffness or joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty breathing
- Vomiting or diarrhea,
- Fever
- Unexpected tiredness
For more information on mosquito behavior, prevention tips and disease risks, click here..
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