NEW CITY – Rockland County is beginning its annual treatment of catch basins and storm drains to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the standing water inside those structures.
The treatments will continue through the end of May.
“Mosquitoes can carry several diseases, including West Nile virus and dog heartworm,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert. “The Asian Tiger mosquito which we have in Rockland County may be able to spread other viruses, including the Zika virus, though this is not certain at this time. Even the smallest amount of standing water can serve as a breeding site for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay eggs in these sites and they hatch within days.”
Tips to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding on your property include:
Checking for any items that can hold water
Drill drain holes in the bottoms of recycling containers, turn over wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use, and remove all discarded tires
If you have a swimming pool not in use, drain the water off the cover
Tightly cover water storage containers – buckets, cisterns, rain barrels
Use an outdoor flying inspect spray where mosquitoes rest
If you have a septic tank, repair cracks and gaps
Make sure roof gutters drain properly
Clear vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds and remove leaf debris from yards and gardens
