Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Buncombe County officials urge 'Tip and Toss' and EPA‑approved repellents to cut mosquito risk
Loading...
Summary
Buncombe County Environmental Health and a Western Carolina University entomologist told listeners on 'Tapped In' that simple actions — emptying standing water, using mosquito dunks where water cannot be removed, dressing to reduce exposed skin and using EPA‑registered repellents — are the best local defenses against mosquito‑borne illness.
Buncombe County environmental health officials and a medical entomologist urged residents on the county’s radio program to reduce mosquito breeding around homes and to use EPA‑registered repellents to lower the risk of mosquito‑borne disease.
"Here in Western North Carolina, we're really worried about one particular pathogen called La Crosse virus," said Dr. Brian Byrd, a medical entomologist at Western Carolina University. "This virus every year puts children in the hospital here in Western North Carolina." He added that most infections do not produce obvious symptoms, but "for probably one out of 100 or one out of 300 infections, especially in children, they can end up with what's called encephalitis," which can include fever, confusion and seizures and, very rarely, death.
Jessica Silver, environmental health administrator for Buncombe County, described the county’s year‑round outreach and specific services for residents. "Tip and Toss is the campaign," she said, urging people to walk their property and remove standing water from buckets, toys, tires and other containers. When water cannot be emptied, Silver said the county can apply or provide mosquito "dunks" that are safe for bird baths and other features.
Dr. Byrd described practical measures to reduce bites and exposure. "I'll leave you with the three D's: so drain, so tip and toss, dress — cover up your skin — and then defend," he said, recommending EPA resources to choose an appropriate repellent (including DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus) based on how long a person will be outdoors.
The guests also explained why some mosquitoes are more likely to transmit disease, noting that container‑breeding Aedes mosquitoes (which can transmit La Crosse virus) can persist year to year when eggs remain in sites such as tires or tree holes. Dr. Byrd said mosquito eggs are hardy — a single mosquito may lay 75 to 120 eggs — so thorough cleaning or covering of tires and other containers is important.
Buncombe County Environmental Health asked listeners with concerns or complaints about mosquito breeding to visit buncombecounty.gov or call (828) 250‑5016 for assistance and guidance. The program emphasized residents can request staff help walking a property to identify breeding sites.
The episode focused on prevention and public education; guests said county officials and university researchers monitor mosquito activity and did not find a substantial post‑storm spike in complaints following the 2024 storm season. The county recommended those same tips — inspect yards, remove standing water, use screens, wear long sleeves and select an EPA‑registered repellent — as the most effective steps individuals can take now.
