Government leaders work hard to keep their communities safe. Mosquito management is an important part of these efforts. The threat of West Nile, Dengue, EEE and other mosquito-borne diseases can frighten the public and detract from enjoyment of outdoor amenities. No leader wants to experience the stress or public outrage associated with a disease outbreak – not to mention the impact it has on the community that they care so much about. Mosquito prevention is key, and public education is a crucial component of preventing bites and reducing breeding habitats.
Most people view mosquitoes as nuisances that hinder the enjoyment of camping, gardening, sports games, nature walks, fishing, neighborhood cookouts, and other outdoor activities. While this is true, mosquitoes are also responsible for killing more than one million people and animals worldwide annually through the transmission of diseases. When the general public understands how these diseases are spread, the habitats in which mosquitoes breed, and effective ways to protect themselves when outdoors, they can help limit the dangerous impact of mosquitoes and reinforce efforts of an Integrated Mosquito Management program.
Community education is a critical part of an Integrated Mosquito Management program – a comprehensive management approach that targets mosquitoes at every stage of their life cycle, including surveillance, disease testing and the implementation of ground or aerial control measures when necessary. Mosquito management efforts have a greater chance of long-term success when supported by the public. As a mosquito management company with a mission of protecting public health, VDCI collaborates with government agencies, mosquito abatement districts, health departments, schools, and public organizations to disseminate information across communities.
For maximal impact, messaging and resources should educate the larger community about the importance of personal protection and explain the influence every person has on mosquito populations in their area:
Personal Protection
One of the most beneficial ways to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases is personal protection. Physical and chemical barriers can effectively keep bites at bay when spending time outdoors.
- Defend yourself with an EPA-registered repellent: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you
- Dress in closed toe shoes and loose fitting pants and long sleeve shirts that are light in color.
- Keep dogs and cats up-to-date with preventative heartworm medicine.
Avoid the outdoors during dawn and dusk hours when mosquitoes are most active.
Property Maintenance
Residence and property maintenance also play a vital role in mosquito prevention. Mosquitoes require standing water in order to breed. It’s essential to identify and regularly drain containers where water may collect. These may include:
- Bird baths
- Flower pots and buckets
- Outdoor pet bowls
- Children’s toys and playsets
- Tires and lawncare equipment
- Pool covers
- Potholes
- Tree stumps
- Canoes and kayaks
Consistently monitoring and clearing gutters and stormwater ditches is important to ensure water is correctly diverted during rainstorms. Mosquitoes also prefer cool, shady areas. Keeping weeds, bushes, and shrubbery trimmed can help reduce places of respite.
Communication Channels
It’s important to distribute information through as many communication channels as possible. Parish and county websites are influential platforms to provide mosquito prevention tips and links to relevant resources. Sharing this information through social media may expand messaging even further. Additionally, instructing city representatives during council meetings can provide them with actionable knowledge to educate their constituents.
Utilizing industry experts to educate community members is also a favorable option. Presentations at schools, libraries, local clubs, senior citizen homes, boy scouts, and public health expos can also help to spread the word about mosquito risks. By focusing on protection and prevention, the community can work together to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
A note on DIY Solutions
It can be tempting for citizens to purchase yard sprays or foggers from home improvement stores, but in the long run, these products can have disastrous consequences. Many products available to consumers are not registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the management of mosquitoes. Overuse of these products, as well as failure to follow label guidelines, can allow mosquitoes to develop resistance to insecticides, including the more advanced products that are only accessible to licensed mosquito management experts.
Instead of DIY spraying, homeowners can support the mosquito management program in their local community by following the best practices mentioned above and becoming educated on the science-backed solutions included in an IMM program. Professional IMM programs may involve:
- GIS mapping and data collection
- Surveillance and disease monitoring
- ULV (ultra-low volume) pesticide applications
- Database reporting
Knowledge is key when it comes to reducing dangerous mosquito populations in a community. Ultimately, these preventative efforts can be summed up as the 4 “Ds” –
- DEFEND
- DRESS
- DRAIN
- DAWN & DUSK
As long as citizens understand and incorporate these simple practices into their daily lives, they can help reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
An educated public is a powerful pillar of an IMM program and a useful measure of its effectiveness. By consistently distributing mosquito control resources, community leaders can help show their commitment to public safety and build trust between the government and the public. At VDCI, we are dedicated to partnering with government entities and health agencies to keep citizens engaged and informed through regular program updates, prevention reminders, and safety warnings as needs arise.
Contact Us to Learn More About Effective Mosquito Prevention Strategies:
Since 1992, Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) has taken pride in providing municipalities, mosquito abatement districts, industrial sites, planned communities, homeowners associations, and golf courses with the tools they need to run effective mosquito control programs. We are determined to protect the public health of the communities in which we operate. Our mosquito control professionals have over 100 years of combined experience in the field of public health, specifically vector disease control. We strive to provide the most effective and scientifically sound mosquito surveillance and control programs possible based on an Integrated Mosquito Management approach recommended by the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VDCI is the only company in the country that can manage all aspects of an integrated mosquito management program, from surveillance to disease testing to aerial application in emergency situations.
If you’re a dog owner, your vet has likely warned you about Dirofilaria immitis, better known as 
Without proper treatment, most dogs will die from heartworm disease which is why it’s important to monitor your dog and seek medical guidance if your dog is experiencing any of the symptoms associated with heartworms. Luckily, treatment is typically successful and prescription medicine can be used to prevent the development of heartworms should a dog be bitten by an infected mosquito. There are also FDA-approved products to prevent heartworms in dogs. Depending on the severity and stage of the disease, surgical removal may be necessary.
In 80-90% of EEE cases, the infection is fatal, and horses may die within a few days. Luckily, vaccinations are available to protect horses from infection. While rare, EEE can also be contracted by humans. Treatment can be effective for less severe infections, but even with treatment, the disease is fatal in approximately 30% of cases.
To examine the state of current 
One of the biggest changes identified with public education programs is the organizational level at which responsibilities principally fall (Figure 4). Forty-seven percent of agencies report that their manager/director is primarily responsible for educational activities within their jurisdiction, down from 53% in 1982. Despite the small change in responsibility for managers/directors, the number of agencies relying on biologists/entomologists for educational outreach decreased from 34% in 1982 to only 9% in 2022. The number of agencies with a specialist focused primarily on education increased from only 8% in 1982 to 34% in 2022, which suggests an increased understanding of the unique skills needed for educational outreach and public relations.
Mosquito bites are an unfortunate side effect of time spent outdoors. But in addition to being a nuisance, mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of many dangerous diseases including West Nile, Encephalitis, Zika, Malaria, and Yellow Fever. Because of these diseases, mosquitoes are considered the deadliest animal in the world. By understanding mosquito populations in your community, it is possible to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases and enhance the overall enjoyment of the great outdoors.
The more entomological experts can learn about population dynamics and species composition in a given area, the more efficiently they can target the problem at its source. Consistent surveillance and disease testing facilitate a greater understanding of the ever-changing challenges surrounding mosquito control, such as local population resistance and environmental considerations. GPS equipment and laboratory examinations by scientific experts play a critical role in data collection. This data is entered into proprietary databases for analysis, mapping, and reporting to local government agencies for coordinated management efforts.
Despite the strategic and technological advances made in recent decades, mosquito control programs cannot be maximized without cooperation from the entire local community. Therefore, public education is an equally important pillar of an effective IMM plan. Depending on stakeholder goals, community education can be accomplished in a number of ways, including public education campaigns, the distribution of brochures or fact sheets, and partnership with the health department to encourage the use of repellents and protective clothing. When individuals take preventative steps to remove standing water from their property they can help community efforts. 
Targeting mosquitoes before they become adults is essential for any good program. That’s where proactive ground services come into play. IMM professionals specialize in understanding and identifying environments that foster mosquito development, like ditches, ponds, and stormwater drains. This knowledge helps experts shape and implement custom solutions that target the unique area. These might include source reduction, habitat modification, the introduction of natural predators like mosquitofish, or the application of EPA-registered larvicides to achieve sustainable control from the ground or, for vast areas, from above using advanced aerial technology.
Although surveillance and larviciding should be the first steps in any mosquito control program, the control of adult mosquito populations is a critical component of an