Mosquito Control

Mosquito bites can happen anywhere, even in your own backyard. Some mosquitoes spread germs that can make you sick. Because you can’t tell which mosquito could be spreading germs when it bites, it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

A laboratory setting with a tray holding multiple small sample vials, a compact centrifuge, and a vortex mixer on a stainless steel counter.

Our Vector team works to protect Jefferson County from the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. The Vector Technician works with our Epidemiologist and Public Health Investigative Nurse to monitor and reduce the spread of diseases through mosquitoes and ticks.

Our Vector Control Program provides services for various areas throughout the county including:

Mosquito Treatments (runs from June to September each year)
- The mosquito treatment request form will be available May 26th.
Mosquito surveillance and testing
Complaint investigations
Education
Community outreach

Mosquito protection tips

Insect Repellent

Follow the CDC’s Insect Repellent Guide on how to choose the correct repellent.

Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – registered insect repellent, containing one of the following active ingredients:

DEET
Picardin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel or icaridin)
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthan-diol (PMD)
IR3535
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When using insect repellent:

Always follow the product label instructions
Reapply repellent as directed
DO NOT apply repellent on skin under clothing
If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second

When using insect repellent on your child:

Always follow label instructions
DO NOT use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old
DO NOT apply repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin
Apply repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face

Protect your home from mosquitoes

Reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and property by getting rid of all standing water at least 1 time per week and scrub out any containers that were holding standing water.

Tip and toss or cover any buckets, bird baths, and barrels
Clean your gutters
Check inside tree stumps or hollow trees
Check pool covers
Check toys
Fix broken screens where mosquitoes might be able to get inside
Tightly cover any water containers.
Use wire mesh small enough to keep mosquitoes out on containers without lids
If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.

Ticks

Tick bites can give you serious and potentially deadly diseases. Many of these diseases can be treated when caught early, so talk to your doctor right away if you think a tick bite made you sick. Not all ticks have diseases so a tick bite doesn’t always mean you will get sick.

Tick prevention tips

Use an insect repellent with a minimum of 20% DEET, picaridin or IR3535
Wear long sleeved shirts and pants outside when possible
Avoid tick-infested places such as brush, tall grass, wood piles and leaf litter
When hiking, stay in the center of the trails
After going indoors, do a self-body check, change clothes, and take a shower.
Check your pets for ticks regularly

What do I do if I find a tick attached to me?

Grasp it with a pair tweezers as close to your skin as possible
Pull the tick straight up and away from your skin, being careful not to twist or jerk
Get rid of the live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag, or flushing it down a toilet.

Never crush a tick between your fingers!

Find more information about tick removal from the CDC