Mosquitos and Disease

While mosquitoes usually are considered a nuisance pest, some species of mosquitoes can spread diseases to people that can cause illness or death.

Local Mosquito Habitats

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in moist areas, and only require a teaspoon of standing water. They remain in the water until they mature into adults and fly off. Many mosquitoes will breed in any container that holds water, such as flowerpots, wading pools or discarded tires.

Most mosquitoes are active between dusk and dawn, when the air is calm. However, others will feed at any time of day. Mosquitoes are active from early summer until late fall in New York State.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially residents living in the woodland swamp areas in the Town of Sullivan (northern Madison County) where Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) have historically been detected in mosquito species.

Click here for local mosquito surveillance results

Prevent Mosquito Bites, Protect From Mosquito-Borne Disease

Mosquitoes usually become infected from feeding on infected birds. An infected mosquito can spread disease to a person from a bite. Prevent bites by:

Dressing in long clothes covering skin to prevent bite.
Eliminating mosquito breeding areas and standing water. Weekly dump and drain containers holding water. Refresh bird baths weekly with fresh water.
Encouraging friends and neighbors to do the same.
Taking and applying mosquito repellent* when outdoors.

*Use repellent with an active ingredient effective against mosquitoes like DEET, Picaridin, or IR 3535.

Search for the repellent right for you.