ArapahoeCounty Fights the Bite during peak mosquito season
Displays stocked with brochures set up in several County buildings
Littleton, Colo.-ArapahoeCounty has set up the Fight the Bite displays in five County buildings which are stocked with brochures to educate the public on ways to avoid the West Nile Virus this season.The West Nile Virus risk is highest in August and September.
Although health officials aren't sure how bad the West Nile Virus will be this year, it is important for citizens to take precautionary measures to help minimize the risk of contracting the disease.Already this year, seven cases of West Nile have been confirmed in Colorado.
"The weather conditions lately have been great for mosquito production," said
John Newhouse, Mosquito Control Manager."It's not the rain that helps mosquitoes produce faster but actually hot weather.That is consecutive 90 plus degree days and there have been many of those the past couple of months."
The only treatment available is prevention. Some precautions individuals may take are to practice the four Ds:
DEET - use DEET - enhanced insect repellent; Dress - in long sleeves and pants; Dusk to Dawn - avoid the outdoors from dusk until dawn; Drain - drain standing water outside your home.
Informational brochures are available in the following buildings:
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AdministrationBuilding, 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton
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ArapahoePlaza, 1690 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton
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CentrePointPlaza, 14980 E. Alameda Dr., Aurora
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Public Works and Development, 10730 East Briarwood Ave., Suite 100, Centennial
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Sheriff's Administration, 13101 E. Broncos Parkway, Centennial
ArapahoeCounty is testing nearly 300 sites each week within the County. Four mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile Virus.The mosquito pools were collected at: Aurora Reservoir, two from CherryCreekState Park, andthe InvernessOffice Park maintenance facility.Theseare the first WNV positivemosquito pools that we have collectedin ArapahoeCounty.
Arapahoe County Mosquito Control will be updating the "mosquito breeding sites" map, continue to have regular meetings with the West Nile Virus Task Force, and continue to take a proactive approach to mosquito control by larvaciding.
For more information about West Nile Virus, visit www.fightthebitecolorado.com.