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Hamilton County issues mosquito warning

Posted at 5:20 PM, Sep 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-15 17:20:41-04

CINCINNATI -- Summer may be winding down, but mosquito season is still in full swing.

Hamilton County Public Health is reminding people to continue to take precautions against mosquitos and diseases like West Nile Virus and Zika Virus. Coupled with heavy rains, the potential for mosquito activity is particularly high now, officials said.

"It is important for residents to remember that we can all take action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” Greg Kesterman, assistant health commissioner said. “With great weather and end-of-summer activities, many people will be enjoying the outdoors.  We’re reminding folks to take precautions."

Those precautions include draining any sources of standing water, like tires, buckets, flowerpots, wading pools and litter. Anyone with bird baths or pet bowls should change the water frequently.

For standing water that cannot be drained, officials recommend using mosquito larvicide, also called "dunks," to the water. They are safe and won't harm pets.

Officials also recommend keeping grass cut and shrubbery trimmed, make sure screens in windows and doors fit tightly, wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk and using an EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon or eucalyptus.