Tips for Avoiding Mosquito Bites this Summer

Summer is officially here, and with this year's extreme rain and heat, it's the perfect mixture to turn into a mosquito haven.

This week is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which is right on time to tell you about some ways to avoid the blood-sucking insect.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CSC) 5,674 cases of West Nile Virus in people, including 286 deaths, were reported to CDC in 2012.

For the past few years, the virus has been found in St. Louis County; however, no case have been found in Hazelwood.

The Mosquito Squad has advice on how to control mosquitoes in your yard this summer.

1. Tip. Reduce standing water. Check children’s sandboxes, wagons or plastic toys; downspouts, plant saucers and dog bowls. Other hot spots: gutters, and flat roofs.
2. Toss. Remove excess grass, leaves, firewood and clippings from yards.
3. Turn. Turn over larger yard items that could hold water like children’s plastic toys.
4. Remove Tarps. If tarps stretched over firewood piles, boats or sports equipment aren’t taut, they’re holding water.
5. Treat. Utilize a mosquito elimination barrier treatment around the home and yard. Using a barrier treatment at home reduces the need for using DEET-containing bug spray on the body. Mosquito Squad’s eliminates up to 90 percent of the mosquitoes and ticks on a property.

Remember you can like Hazelwood Patch on Facebook. Don't forget to visit Twitter: twitter.com/HazelwoodPatch.

How do you avoid mosquito interaction in the summer?