Aiken's Guide To Effective Mosquito Control 

Mosquitoes Are Dangerous 

Mosquitoes are considered the most dangerous animals on the planet because of the serious diseases they spread. Only females bite. When a mosquito bites you, she injects some of her saliva to keep your blood from clotting while she drinks it. That saliva injection is what transmits the diseases mosquitoes carry. A mosquito can transmit the following diseases in this way. Most of them are not threats in the United States, but travelers occasionally get them and then come home, opening the possibility of the diseases spreading. 

• Zika virus is not usually found in the United States. Most people only feel mild symptoms or none at all. Zika can cause microcephaly and other severe brain defects in unborn babies when it travels from a pregnant woman to her child. There is no cure for this disease. 
• Malaria used to run rampant in some parts of the United States. It still runs rampant in many countries. Malaria is caused by a parasite that mosquitoes spread. It can cause fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms. If untreated, it can cause more severe complications and even death. There is a preventative for this disease as well as treatment. 
• West Nile virus is found in the United States. Most people do not feel anything when infected with this virus. About 1 in 5 people develop symptoms such as fever. About 1 in 150 of those people get really sick and may die. There is no treatment for this disease. 
• Dengue fever causes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, aches, and pains. Most people recover in about a week but some people develop severe symptoms and can die quickly. There is no treatment for this disease. 
• Chikungunya causes fever and joint pain 3-7 days after being bitten by a mosquito. More severe cases cause a rash, headache, joint swelling, and muscle pain. This disease does not usually kill people but it can be debilitating for months. There is no treatment for this disease.
• Yellow fever used to be found in the United States. It can be as mild as fever and aches and pains or as serious as severe liver problems like bleeding and jaundice. There is no treatment for this disease, but there is a vaccine. 
• Canine heartworms are spread from mosquitoes to dogs and, rarely, cats. There are preventative treatments to prevent heartworms and treatments to get rid of them.

Preventing Mosquito Problems 

You can prevent many mosquito problems just by keeping your yard tidy.  

• Dump out standing water. 
• Keep your lawn cut.  
• Cut back shrubs so that they are at least 6 inches from your house to remove areas that mosquitoes loaf in during the day.  
• Clean out birdbaths and water troughs at least every five days to remove mosquito larvae that are growing in there.

Get Professional Help To Manage Mosquitoes In Your Yard 

Because mosquitoes fly, they may enter your yard even if you do your best to make things inhospitable for them. If they are making your time outside miserable, contact Aiken Pest Control to get rid of them. When you contact us, we will give you a free quote for our mosquito, flea, and tick control services. We can do a one-time treatment 24-48 hours before an outside event or we can treat monthly from April-October to keep them at bay throughout the mosquito season. Call Aiken Pest Controlat (803) 232-7899 today to rid your yard of mosquitoes.