Jun 24, 2024 2 min read

The Fayette-Washington Mosquito-Borne Disease Program has officially started the tick and mosquito surveillance season, in partnership with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Program Coordinator Ken Hess said, while most insects provide beneficial effects – such as being part of the food web or acting as plant pollinators – ticks and mosquitoes can become “a biting nuisance.” They can also transmit diseases that can make humans sick.

“Each week, the Fayette-Washington Mosquito-Borne Disease Program collects environmental samples of tick and mosquito populations from our communities to assess disease transmission potential,” Hess said. “Communities with mosquito and tick populations showing elevated disease risks are proactively targeted with control measures and personal protection education.”

The DEP funds the collection, testing and control of tick and mosquito populations through grants, and uses the collected data to publish seasonal risk values statewide. Hess said citizens may see his team of biologists collecting insects this season by “dragging a white cloth along the edge of local parks or setting mosquito traps.”

“This is being done to measure the risk of tick and mosquito populations transmitting diseases in Fayette and Washington counties. While our agency actively monitors tick and mosquito populations, all residents in our community have a shared responsibility to reduce habitats for these insects,” he said. “We encourage the reduction of standing water and the creation of a tick-safe zone around your property.”

As residents spend more time outdoors this summer, experts recommend using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, checking daily for ticks after being outdoors, removing standing water that would attract mosquitos and repairing holes in window or door screens.