Combatting Mosquitoes: Wichita County Health District’s Strategies to Control Pesky Insect Populations and Minimize Disease Outbreaks
As temperatures rise and rain falls in Wichita Falls, Texas, mosquitoes are becoming more prevalent. To combat the pesky insects, the Wichita County Health District discussed their efforts to control mosquito populations at a recent Wichita County Commissioner’s Court meeting.
According to Andrew Skinner, the Vector Control Coordinator for the Wichita County Health District, spray trucks are less effective as they only target flying mosquitoes. Treating mosquitoes in water is a more efficient method. The Health District is also working on enhancing their interactive spray map for better accessibility and readability, allowing residents to see when their neighborhoods will be sprayed next.
To prevent an outbreak of West Nile Virus and other diseases that mosquitoes can transmit, the Health District uses traps to capture female mosquitoes for virus testing. If any presence of the virus is detected, they initiate spraying in the affected areas. However, targeting mosquitoes while they are still in the water is preferred as they are more concentrated and easier to reach in that state.
Recent rains in the area have prompted increased vigilance in monitoring mosquito activity for signs of West Nile Virus. By staying proactive and utilizing various control methods, such as treating mosquitoes in water and using traps for virus testing, the Health District aims to minimize the mosquito population and reduce the risk of disease outbreaks like West Nile Virus.
