'Tip and Toss' to Reduce Mosquito Breeding

Rain is refreshing on a hot day, but what's left over can create a dangerous breeding environment.

According to The Guilford County Department of Public Health, usually after a rain, there are areas of standing water.  Mosquitoes can breed in as little as two teaspoons of water. Sandy Ellington, a community health educator, says these pests carry diseases. She recommends people ‘Tip and Toss' to reduce the chance of baby mosquitoes hatching.       

“If you have things like a bird bath, a pool cover, buckets, tarps, animal water dishes, or empty flower pots, you should at least tip those over and toss out the water every seven days or so.” Ellington says this protests people and family pets. Other preventive things people can do include repairing leaking outside faucets, keeping a screen over any outside rain barrels and securing window and door screens. Mosquitoes can carry numerous viruses including La Crosse, Eastern equine encephalitis or West Nile. She also recommends people wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and long socks when camping and hiking to protect themselves from insect bites.