Mosquitoes can spread dangerous diseases like West Nile, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to follow these tips:

• Defend yourself with Insect Repellants
• Drain standing water in and around your home
  • How You Can Help Prevent Mosquito Infestations
• Dress in long, loose, and light-colored clothing
• Dawn and Dusk: Limit outdoor activities during dawn and dusk when some kinds of mosquitoes are most active.

Defend Yourself All Day, Every Day: Wear insect repellants that contain DEET or other EPA-approved repellants. To protect yourself against mosquito bites and the diseases they carry, use insect repellant all day, every day indoors and outdoors. Follow label instructions. Approved repellants include those that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Drain standing water in and around your home. Mosquito larvae and pupae live in standing water. You can reduce mosquitoes around your home by removing standing water around your home. Standing water can be found in containers like flower pots, kiddie pools, toys, bird baths, and old tires. Ponds and pools should be cleaned and maintained. Dispose of garbage. Drain and/or treat gutters, storm drains, and other areas that collect water. Low areas in your yard or around landscapes that collect water can be filled with dirt to make it level.

Dress in long, loose, and light-colored clothing outside. Mosquitoes look for uncovered skin and are more attracted to dark colored clothing. It is best to wear long sleeves and pants light in color. Apply mosquito repellant outside of clothing.

Dawn and Dusk: Limit outdoor activities during dawn and dusk when some kinds mosquitoes are most active. Mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are most active at dusk and dawn, but mosquitoes that carry dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are more active during the day. Insect repellant should be worn all day and night during the mosquito season. Follow label instructions, and keep window screens in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from entering buildings.

Mosquitoes breed in water. Draining or treating standing water is very important to reduce mosquito populations.

EPA-approved larvicides can be used to kill immature mosquitoes in standing water before they become adults. Larvicides available for retail purchase can be in tablet, pellet, granular, or briquette formulations.

These images are examples of larvicide products. CLHD does not recommend or endorse any specific type of product. Before using any product, consumers should always read and follow label instructions.

Choose the Mosquito Repellant that’s right for you!

Find out what the City of Laredo Health Department does to protect you and your family from mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases!

Go on a Mosquito Safari!

Videos

• Fight the Bite!
• One Mosquito Bite Can Change a Life Forever
• Controlling Mosquitoes with Science for a Better Life
• Prevent Mosquito Bites and Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Resources

For information on mosquito-borne diseases and control, visit the following links.

• West Nile Virus
  • CDC - West Nile Virus
• Dengue
  • CDC - Dengue
  • Dallas County HHS - Dengue
• Chikungunya
  • CDC - Chikungunya
  • Dallas County HHS - Chikungunya
• Zika
  • CDC - Zika
  • Dallas County HHS - Zika
• Mosquito Control
  • EPA - Mosquito Control
• USGS Disease Maps
  • CDC - USGS Disease Maps

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