MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department has suggested ways to fight mosquitoes.
They include:
– Clean rain gutters and downspouts.
– Discard old tires or store inside where rain water cannot collect inside of tires.
– Discard tin cans, buckets or any container that might collect water.
– Empty, clean and refill birdbaths, “drip plates” underneath flower pots and small wading pools weekly.
– Cut broken and unwanted bamboo flush with its nodes.
The department said in a news release that any object that collects rainwater is a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.
During 2009, Shelby County had four probable cases and one confirmed case of West Nile virus with one related death. The virus is spread by infected mosquitoes.