Prevention and treatment tips for mosquito season

HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- Springtime means more time outdoors here on the Gulf Coast, but it also marks the return of mosquito season.

WXXV News 25’s Brynne Baxley has a look at how you can stay protected and what Harrison County is doing to help.

You might be spending more time outdoors this spring, but you may have some unwanted company. Mosquito season has arrived in Mississippi.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a few simple ways to protect yourself from bites.

Start by using an EPA registered insect repellent any time you head outdoors.

Wearing long sleeves and pants can help, but the CDC says you should avoid spraying repellent under your clothing and when possible, opt for light-colored clothing.

Another important step, control mosquitoes both inside and outside your home. They breed in standing water, so eliminating those sources can make a big difference.

Harrison County Mosquito Control Director Gene Fayard says nighttime spraying will begin soon. “Anybody that’s having some kind of event, you know if you’re having a birthday party, some kind of family gathering. You call us and we’ll come out usually the night before and fog the area. The only thing with us is that it kills only what it touches.”

Fayard says finding where mosquitos are breeding is even more effective than fogging alone. “If you’re having a real problem with mosquitoes around your house or in your area, you can call our office and we’ll send somebody out. A lot of times, mosquitoes don’t fly very far, so if there’s a major problem, they’re breeding somewhere close by, either your yard or your neighbor’s yard, or a ditch close by your house.”

For those in Harrison County, you can contact mosquito control at 228-896-0409.