General Sanitation Factors

The Health District urges people to monitor their property for any standing water because mosquitoes need only a small amount of water to develop their eggs into adult mosquitoes.

A female mosquito lays up to 200 eggs at one time. It only takes 7 -14 days for an egg to hatch and become another flying mosquito.

Prevention

Elimination of potential mosquito breeding habitats is a critical key for mosquitos in McLennan County.

• Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
• Remove discarded tires, and other items that could collect water.
• Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.
• At least once or twice a week, empty water from flowerpots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.

If you notice stagnant water in your area for a week or longer, report this problem to the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District at (254)750-5464 for assistance.

Mosquito-borne Viruses

The Texas Department of State Health Services provides a daily count update for the number of Zika cases in Texas. The Waco-McLennan County Health District will update the community on any human cases of mosquito-borne diseases in McLennan County.

The Center for Disease Control has issued a travel warning for regions and countries where Zika transmission is ongoing.

Protection

The best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is to follow the 4 Ds of protection.

• Defend: Use mosquito repellent.
• Drain: Drain any standing or stagnant water.
• Day and Night: Different Mosquito breeds bite at different times of the day. Always have insect repellent available.
• Dress: Wear long sleeves/pants, loose and light-colored clothing when outdoors.

It is best to use mosquito repellant when you are outside. Repellents that are approved and recommended are:

• DEET (insect repellent)
• Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
• IR3535 (insect repellent)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-Undecanone: These are EPA-registered insect repellents that have been proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Here are some rules to follow when using repellents:

• Read the directions on the label carefully before applying.
• Keep repellents away from eyes, nostrils and lips: do not inhale or ingest repellents or get them into the eyes.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that DEET-based repellents can be used on children as young as two months of age. Generally, the AAP recommends concentrations of 30% or less.
• Do NOT use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
• Avoid applying repellents to portions of children's hands that are likely to have contact with eyes or mouth.
• Pregnant and nursing women should minimize use of repellents.
• Never use repellents on wounds or irritated skin.
• Wash repellent-treated skin after coming indoors.
• If a suspected reaction to insect repellents occurs, wash treated skin, and call a physician. Take the repellent container to the physician.

Mosquito Ordinance

Rodents, particularly rats, are responsible for a substantial amount of property damage and may transmit diseases such as Murine typhus, plague, salmonellosis, trichinosis, leptospirosis, and rat-bite fever.

Prevention

Rats and mice are attracted by trash piles, open garbage cans, pet food, and pet manure (poop). Quick fixes like traps may help, but long-term changes throughout your neighborhood are best:

• Eliminate food sources such as compost piles or outside pet food. Bird feeders should be on poles and seed in trays that rats can't reach. If a squirrel can reach the bird feeder, so can a rat.
• Keep garbage can lids closed tightly.
• Pick up fruits and vegetables in your yard.
• Remove shelters such as woodpiles, bushes, vines, tall grasses, rockeries, old furniture, appliances, and junk.
• Rat-proof your basement and sheds by sealing holes or other openings.
• Kill rats when necessary to reduce the population.

Reporting

If you are a renter of residential housing, you will need to notify your landlord. If you are staying at a hotel/motel, notify the front desk of the situation. If the problem persists or is not addressed, contact local city code enforcement or DSHS to see how they may be able to assist. Use tips from above if rodents are found in a personal home. Report to city code enforcement if the problem persists.

Rodent Ordinance

The Health District encourages the cities within McLennan County to adopt smoking ordinances to provide smoke free indoor environments. Environmental Health provides information about these regulations and enforces the smoking ordinance as necessary. The cities within McLennan County that have adopted a smoking ordinance are:

• Bellmead
• Hallsburg(PDF, 204KB)
• Hewitt
• Lacy Lakeview
• Robinson
• Woodway
• Waco