Ouachita Parish Mosquito Abatement District wants to remind the public to be mindful and takeprecautions to protect against mosquito bites. All mosquito borne diseases require being bitten by an infected mosquito for transmission to happen.
The best way to protect yourself from infection is to protect yourself from mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home. The following are preventative measures as outlined by the Center for Disease Control:
• Apply insect repellant to exposed skin and thin fabric. Repellents do not kill mosquitoes, but they will help to deter them. A 10% DEET repellent will typically last 90 minutes while a 30% product will last 5-6 hours. DEET-based repellants can be applied to all family members over the age of 2 months with up to 30% concentration. Other repellants recommended by the CDC include Picaridin (which can also be applied to infants 2 months or older) and oil of lemon-eucalyptus. The oil of lemon-eucalyptus CANNOT be used on children younger than 3 years of age.
• Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants and avoid peak mosquito activity times (dusk and dawn) if possible.
• Help control the mosquito populations around your home by emptying any standing water. Make sure to thoroughly rinse any bird baths or pet water bowls every 3-5 days during the hot summer months.
• The use of fans can help keep mosquitoes away as they are not strong flyers.
If you need additional information or comments on the above information, please contact Ms. Nestrud. Office: 323-3535