Mosquitos, Ticks, and Other Vectors

• Create a public health adaptation plan
  • These plans help assess the community’s vulnerability to vector-borne diseases and decide on the best plan of attack for vector reduction.
    • See how Massachusetts Surveyed Climate Readiness of Public Health Departments
    • See how Minnesota Assesses Climate Risk to Public Health

These are at best a temporary solution and should only be used if there are no other alternatives available. In all cases, there must be proper considerations of the area and safety measures must be followed exactly.

• Use larvicide to reduce the level of larval vectors
• Use adulticide to target adult mosquitos
  • This is less efficient than larvicide and should only be used for supplemental or emergency purposes. They are applied as ultra-low volume (ULV) sprays to dispense extremely small droplets.

• While there are strategies that local governments can implement, if citizens are aware of what are breeding areas and how to reduce them, it can help reduce the overall number of vectors. Strategies to communicate to residents include:
  • Search for and dispose of discarded or unused tin cans, old tires, tarps, boat covers, or other artificial water containers
  • Make weekly inspections of the water in flower pots and plant containers
  • Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools weekly and drain them when not in use
  • Stock garden and lily ponds with top-feeding minnows
  • Keep rain gutters unclogged and flat roofs dry
  • Eliminate stagnant pools, puddles, ditches, or swamps places around the home and property
  • Keep margins of small ponds clear of vegetation
  • Place tight covers over cisterns, cesspools, septic tanks, fire barrels, rain barrels, and tubs where water is stored
  • Chlorinate and filter swimming pools and outdoor hot tubs
  • Remove all tree stumps that may hold water

• Conduct a survey for breeding places
  • A survey will allow public health officials to determine what areas are good breeding areas for the different vectors. Once these are known, they can be used as locations for reduction strategies.
• Ditch and clean stagnant streams to ensure a continuous flow of water
• Drain or fill back-water pools and swamps where stagnant water accumulates
• Keep overgrown and heavy vegetation cleared and cut in tick-infested areas
• Remove vegetation and debris from along the shores of lakes and ponds to discourage breeding
• Stock small lakes and ponds with top-feeding minnows, if allowable
• Improve wetlands and marshes to encourage the development of predators (e.g. frogs, predatory insects, predatory fish)

• Install window and door screens
• Cover all gaps in walls, doors, and windows
• Make sure screens are “bug tight”