FREEHOLD – Along with COVID-19 there is need to protect yourself from other maladies.
With that thought in mind, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Mosquito Control Division are teaming up to remind residents to protect themselves against mosquito and mosquito-borne diseases this spring.
“As the weather begins to warm up and residents are now able to enjoy the outdoors, it is important to remember to take precautions as mosquitoes are active and people may be susceptible to mosquito-borne diseases,” Freehold Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley, liaison to the Mosquito Control Division said.
“It is important for everyone to stay vigilant in identifying and eliminating places where mosquitos can breed such as buckets, tires or bird baths,” Kiley said.
To help minimize mosquitos on your property:
- Empty any buckets or containers with standing water
- Drill drainage holes in the bottom of garbage and recycling cans
- Regularly clean your gutters
- Turn over wheelbarrows
- Keep yard toys turned over
- Properly dispose of old tires
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends using insect repellent that is EPA registered that contains one of the following ingredients of DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undercanone that will help protect against mosquitoes.
Treat clothing and gear with permethrin. When using insect repellent, always follow the instructions. If also using sunscreen, apply repellent after sunscreen.
“The CDC recently announced that there is no data to suggest that this new coronavirus, or other similar coronaviruses, are spread through mosquitoes,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Kiley.
Kiley warned residents that, “mosquitoes do carry diseases and we should do everything we can to eliminate places where they can breed.”
For more information residents can reference the Mosquito Habitat Checklist or call the Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division at 732-542-3630 or go to visitmonmouth.com/mosquito.
