Harrison County
Mosquito Surveillance & Control Program
The Mosquito Surveillance & Control program is funded through a grant provided by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Harrison County General Health District wrote for the grant in 2024 to collect baseline data about mosquitoes in Harrison County while also providing community education on mosquito-borne illnesses and control methods.
Harrison County Health Department Role
Harrison County General Health District Mosquito Surveillance & Control Interns conduct surveillance activities June through September for trapping and shipping of mosquitoes to the Ohio Department of Health. ODH identifies the species of mosquitoes and tests them for West Nile Virus. This data is then reported back the health department to be utilized in a more targeted approach to mosquito education and control methods.
Mosquito-borne diseases occurring locally in Ohio:
- Eastern equine encephalitis virus
- La Crosse virus
- St. Louis encephalitis virus
- West Nile virus
Mosquito season is May thru October. Do your part to protect yourself, your family and your home:
Tips to keep from being bitten:
- Use repellents from dusk to dawn (Use products according to label instructions).
- Wear light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts or jackets and long pants.
- Consider avoiding outdoor activity during peak mosquito biting hours (i.e. around dawn and dusk).
- Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure.
Tips to prevent Mosquitoes from breeding in and around your home:
- Eliminate all sources of stagnant water from around your home (flowerpots, buckets, barrels, tarps and wheel barrows) or drain them at least weekly.
- Discard any trash that can hold water (cans, plastic jugs, etc.).
- Change water in pet dishes daily.
- Change water in bird baths weekly.
- Keep gutters clean.
- Keep swimming pools clean, chlorinated and water circulating (even if not being used).
- Empty kiddie pools at least weekly.
- Install or repair screens on open windows and doorways.
- Tires – store good tires inside or keep them covered. Junk tires should be removed from property.
