Mosquito Information

Portage County Health District conducts a mosquito surveillance program. This program consists of a combination of trapping activities, surveillance for problem areas, and homeowner education.

These mosquito surveillance activities will support Ohio’s efforts to mitigate the potential outbreak of endemic mosquito borne viruses such as: West Nile Virus, La Crosse (LAC) virus, St Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus. Effective mosquito activities will also guard against and educate the public about travel-acquired mosquito borne diseases that may be imported into Ohio such as: Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, Malaria, Dengue, and Yellow Fever.

The 2020 services consist of:

  • Education addressing source reduction and identification of breeding sites to reduce the mosquito population,
  • Surveillance for potential breeding locations, and
  • Provision of “Dunks” for individual homeowner placement on private property for larviciding to control mosquito emergence.

The Portage County Health District will undertake educational activities to address mosquito borne diseases actions to reduce breeding locations, and person protection measures. Our web site includes a link for mosquito information that includes an informational brochure.

Together, as our community partners, we can prevent the spread of disease, promote safety tips, and protect our residents. If there are locations in your communities that may be potential mosquito breeding areas, such as abandoned tires or areas with stagnant, standing water, please provide a description and location at your earliest convenience so it can be added to the assessment and surveillance activities.


Yard Spraying to Reduce/Eliminate Mosquitos

Pesticide application is best left to a professional pesticide operator who is licensed and trained. The Portage County Combined General Health District does NOT spray to reduce or eliminate mosquitos. The Ohio Department of Agriculture maintains a list of such professionals. Click Here to search by person or company.


Prevention, Education, Source Reduction

Follow these tips at home to help avoid mosquito bites:

  • Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
  • Repair or replace all torn screens in your home.
  • Remove all discarded tires from your property.
  • Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers.
  • Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
  • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered.
  • Drain water from pool covers.
  • Change the water in bird baths at least once a week.
  • Turn over plastic wading pools, and wheelbarrows, etc. when not in use.
  • Clean ditches of obstructions so they drain properly.
  • Eliminate any standing water that collects on your property.
  • Check trees for cavities that hold water and fill them with soil, gravel or sand.
  • Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.
  • Use EPA-registered insect repellents and follow the label directions.

Follow these tips while traveling to help avoid mosquito-borne diseases:

  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
  • Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
  • Sleep under a mosquito bed net if outside and not able to protect against mosquito bites.
  • Wear EPA-registered insect repellents. All EPA registered insect repellents have been evaluated for effectiveness and are safe to use during pregnancy.

o    Always follow the product label instructions.

o    Reapply repellent as instructed.

o    Do not spray insect repellent underneath clothing.

o    Apply sunscreen to skin first then insect repellent.

o    Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age.

  • Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchasing permethrin-treated items. Treated clothing remains protective after multiple washings.

Please contact us for assistance through the information hotline.


Localized Mosquito Control

For a limited time, mosquito control “Dunks”, manufactured by Summit Chemical, are available at no charge to homeowners that have problematic ponds or large areas of standing water on their properties.

Should you desire additional information about our "Mosquito Dunks" , please feel free to contract Andrew Bull, at (330) 296 – 9919 ext. 122. 

 


Mosquito Borne Diseases

According to the Ohio Department of Health Zoonotic Disease Program each summer, mosquitoes are a familiar biting pest in backyards, parks and campgrounds. Most are merely a nuisance and are not major vectors of diseases. In fact, only a few of the 59 species of mosquitoes in Ohio can transmit disease. However, the diseases these mosquitoes can carry are very serious ones, such as encephalitis and malaria in humans and heartworm in dogs. 

Therefore, it is always advisable to take preventive measures to protect yourself and your family against mosquito bites. Ohio is home to a variety of mosquito borne diseases: West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE), and LaCrosse Encephalitis (LAC).

Ohio Department of Health - Mosquito Resources

In additional, there are several travel related mosquito borne disease that may be imported into in Ohio (travel-acquired), such as: Chikungunya virus, Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis, malaria, yellow fever, and Zika virus.

Additional information about these diseases, prevalence, and prevention measures are available on the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.


Useful Links & Resources