PRESS RELEASE

Heavy winter rains, combined with the warmer weather, is creating an ideal situation for mosquitoes to breed. City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis advises that residents should follow the below precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry.

Mosquitoes can carry serious diseases like West Nile Virus, encephalitis, malaria and Zika, and can present a serious public health concern. Mosquitos cannot transmit the COVID-19 virus.

What can people do to protect themselves?

• Empty any containers filled with water in and around the home.
• Clean and scrub bird baths and pet water bowls at least once a week.
• Dump water from potted plant saucers.
• Ensure that water-related play areas (kiddie pools, water slides, etc.) are properly maintained.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and drain water from pool covers.
• Limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants. Follow the Long Beach watering schedule and only water your landscape on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
• Install screens on doors and windows.
• Use an EPA registered insect repellent such as DEET to prevent mosquito bites. DEET is safe for children 2 months and older as well as pregnant & breastfeeding mothers (always us as directed).

Vector control inspections and mosquito abatement programs are still operational during the COVID-19 crisis. Residents are urged to report unusual numbers of day-biting mosquitoes and neglected or green pools in one of the following ways:

• Call the Long Beach Mosquito Hotline at 562.570.4132.
• Submit an online report at www.longbeach.gov/mosquitoes.

Report dead birds to the California Department of Public Health by calling 1-877-WNV-BIRD or online at: westnile.ca.gov.

Residents can find more information about mosquitoes, rodents and fleas by visiting www.longbeach.gov/health and by following the Health Department on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media inquiries can be directed to Judeth Luong, Acting Environmental Health Manager, Department of Health & Human Services, 562.570.4104.

For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep its residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.