Brunswick Co. crews gear up for mosquito season

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — They make us itch, turn our skin red and make us retreat inside during the warmest time of the year. They’re mosquitoes and they are headed our way.

Mosquitoes are not only a pest but they threaten our health and well-being. The Brunswick County Mosquito Control staff is using this time before they begin spraying to educate people on how they can avoid these little blood suckers.

“They’re itchy and annoying,” Abram Young said. “Our public education program with Mosquito Control is geared toward the Asian Tiger Mosquitoes. This mosquito is only going to be found in tarps, buckets, tires, containers, backed up gutters.”

Young says eliminating standing water from around your home can keep them from breeding.

“They only fly about 300 hundred feet so by simply reducing the water around your home you’re going to reduce your mosquitoes,” Young said.

While people are urged to do their part, the county’s mosquito control conducts studies year around. In fact, they just partnered with Duke University for a study.

“The goal of the study with Duke University was to help us better use our resources to target mosquito population during times of disease,” Jeff Brown.

A disease mosquitoes transmit in this state is Eastern Equine Encephalitis or EEE. Though this disease spreading to humans and pets is very rare, according to the CDC fever, headache, irritability, restlessness, drowsiness and vomiting are some of the symptoms.

But the Brunswick County Mosquito Control is doing what they can to keep people healthy and happy.

“We try our hardest to suppress mosquitoes in a community so people can you know enjoy their evening, enjoy their lives,” Young said.