The unseasonably warm weather has been good for home builders and produce farmers. But it’s also a boon for one of the most dreaded summertime pests. Public health officials are expecting a record number of mosquitoes this year.
Cold weather usually helps mosquitoes die off, but a warm winter this year means no relief. Workers at Metro Public Health have started their mosquito prevention efforts earlier than usual. They’re trying to stop the invasion before it starts, by looking for mosquito larvae. Dr. Sanmi Areola says any container full of stagnant water can serve as an incubator. And it doesn’t matter how small.
“Even as small as a bottle cap is potential breeding ground.”
Metro Public Health is already surveying public spaces for mosquito breeding grounds. Next month, they’ll go door to door in the city’s neighborhoods to see if mosquitoes are lurking in backyards.
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