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GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – It’s National Mosquito Awareness Week.
Billy Scales of the Mosquito Squad in Greenville says the season is accelerating.
“It’s been a really big season for mosquitoes,” Scales said.
It’s the second day of summer. And if you’ve been outside, especially near water, there’s a good chance you’ve been bitten or tried to avoid bugs in some way.
Shimon Ohi tries to prepare when he can.
“Normally I just try to spray the OFF! Or some other kind of bug spray. And normally they’re fine, but I could be a little more careful,” Ohi said.
Ohi wore shorts while visiting his home in upstate Cincinnati.
“I went down to Greenville about two days ago. And we thought there were no bugs anywhere because we were so used to the cicadas on my leg,” Ohi said.
DHEC says there are 61 species of mosquitoes in our state. Not all bite, but those that do can cause serious health problems by spreading disease.
“I’ve heard of West Nile virus. I’m trying to be more aware of it as best I can, but I guess I’ve been a little too careless this time,” Ohi said.
This is not only West Nile virus, but also East Equine Encephalitis virus, La Crosse encephalitis virus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus and dog / cat heart, according to DHEC. Scales says business has already started to pick up.
“I think there is a higher bite rate than what we’ve seen in previous seasons,” said Scales. “There is certainly a big increase in the number of people looking for services to reduce them.”
The American Mosquito Control Association recommends three D’s for repelling mosquitoes:
- Drain: Empty water containers at least once a week.
- Dress: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and loose, light-colored clothing.
- Defend: Properly apply an EPA registered product that contains a repellant such as catnip oil, lemongrass / lemongrass oil, DEET, IR 3535, lemon eucalyptus oil, picaridin , 2-undecanone or clothing treated with permethrin. With all repellents, be sure to follow the directions on the product label.
“Clean your gutters too. It’s a great breeding ground for mosquitoes,” Scales said.
DHEC also said pet and livestock owners should take steps to protect their animals. Last year, from June 24 to December 4, DHEC detected the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE) in 17 horses in 10 counties, 13 of which were in the summer. Vaccines can be effective in protecting horses against EEE and West Nile. Pet and livestock owners should consult their veterinarian.
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