Check Out Your House

West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes, which need only small amounts of water to produce more mosquitoes.
To protect against West Nile Virus or other mosquito-borne diseases, eliminate ANY water in your yard or treat it with mosquito growth regulators available at local hardware or nursery stores.

Mosquito season is just around the corner and the most effective way you can protect yourself is by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds from your property.

Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle or standing water that lasts more than four days. Even in a tablespoon of standing water can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

To protect yourself and your pets, "dump and drain" all water-holding containers such as:

Flowerpots
Buckets
Discarded tires
Gutters
Tree holes
Any other vessels that can hold water

Check your home for any of these possible mosquito sources:

If you have a birdbath change the water once or twice a week.

Ornamental ponds should be aerated and stocked with mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis).

Free mosquitofish can be picked up at Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District, 155 Mason Circle in Concord. For directions call 925-685-9301.

Don't let mosquitoes bug you - dump and drain and eliminate them from your property.

Content provided by the Public Health Division of Contra Costa Health Services.