Know the Buzz about mosquito bites.  The City of Auburn Hills and Oakland County residents are urged to follow prevention tips to protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases.  The best way to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes is to avoid being bitten.

Follow these tips to protect you and your family:

• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent.  All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for safety and effectiveness.
• Always follow the product label instructions.
• Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age.
• Do not apply insect repellent on a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cut or irritated skin.
• Adults: spray insect repellent on your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
• Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Avoid areas where mosquitoes may be present, including indoor areas

Control mosquitoes at home:

• Maintain window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of buildings.  Do not prop open doors.
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water in and around your home:
  • Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, roof gutters, or trash containers.

Prevent the spread of disease:

Some diseases that are spread by mosquitoes include West Nile virus, Zika virus, etc., St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and LaCrosse (LAC) virus.

Shawn Keenan, City Planner