Officials To Fight Mosquitoes, West Nile Virus

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Blood-sucking and itchy bumps. Mosquito season is just around the corner.

According to a study published in The Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives, some experts believe the threat of West Nile Virus could increase in the United States because of global warming.

The Ohio Department of Health said predicting mosquito populations is impossible; it all depends on short-term weather patterns.

Last year, 53 pools tested positive for West Nile in Columbus.

Despite budget cuts, funding for the mosquito program will remain intact.

This year, the health department will start fighting mosquitoes in June.

“We’re going to start the season off by doing surveillance. We’re going to go out and set mosquito traps, collect and ID traps,” Columbus Public Health’s Joe Harrod said.

Hot spots such as low-lying areas and past positive pools will be targeted first.

Harrod said standing water that can’t be drained can be treated with chemicals.

Spraying is the last resort to killing mosquitoes.

But the first line of defense is in your hands. Making sure to get rid of standing water in things such as toys, gutters and bird baths.

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