To mark both National Pest Management Month and the start of mosquito season, Terminix Service Inc. (TSI) has released a press release about how families can protect themselves from the Zika virus.
“Mosquitoes are inevitable this time of year and we encourage everyone to be proactive in protecting themselves from mosquito-borne illness by reducing the mosquito population in their yard,” Kevin Hathorne, TSI’s technical director, says in the release. “In addition to minimizing standing water around your home, it’s important to get your yard professionally treated throughout the spring and summer.”
Hathorne says steps to reducing mosquitoes include:
- Disposing of old tires, buckets, drums, bottles or any water-holding containers.
- Cleaning debris from rain gutters, ditches, culverts and outdoor drains so water can flow properly.
- Ensuring swimming pools and ornamental ponds are properly maintained and that water in birdbaths, plant pots or drip trays is emptied and replaced after every rainfall.
- Checking around outdoor faucets, air conditioner units and repair leaks or puddles.
- Filling in tree holes and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete.
- Keeping grass cut and shrubs well trimmed where adult mosquitoes may rest.
- Sealing out mosquitoes by ensuring windows and door screens are in good condition.
- Wearing light colored clothing, long sleeve shirts and long pants when possible.
- Using personal insect repellents that contain DEET.
So now it’s your turn, readers: What are you doing to celebrate National Pest Management Month? Are you educating customers (and potential customers) on the public health problems that mosquitoes and other pests pose? Comment below or drop us a line at pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.
-HG
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