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Sedgwick County health official urges residents to remove standing water; offers free Mosquito Dunks
Summary
A Sedgwick County health official warned that West Nile virus is the main mosquito-borne threat in Kansas, urged residents to eliminate standing water, and said free Mosquito Dunks are available from the Sedgwick County Department of Health; call 316-660-7300 to request them.
A Sedgwick County health official urged residents to eliminate standing water around their homes to reduce the risk of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, and said the county’s health department is mailing free Mosquito Dunks to residents who request them.
The official said, “En Kansas, la principal amenaza por los mosquitos es el virus del Nilo. Este puede causar problemas de salud graves, resultando en hospitalización o incluso la muerte.” The statement emphasized that even small amounts of standing water — in ponds, birdbaths, plant saucers or the cap of a bottle — can be sufficient for mosquitoes to reproduce.
The official recommended Mosquito Dunks, saying, “Los Mosquito Dunks son una excelente opción para prevenir mosquitos en la comunidad. Contienen una bacteria que es ingerida por las larvas de mosquito y que luego las elimina. La buena noticia es que no afectan a otros animales, aves, peces, insectos o a personas.” According to the guidance provided in the announcement, a single dunk covers about 50 square feet, a dunk may be broken into smaller pieces for small containers, and one dunk’s effect lasts about one month.
The Sedgwick County Department of Health currently has Mosquito Dunks available to the public at no cost; residents were given a phone number to call and leave their name and mailing address to receive the product by mail. The number provided in the announcement is 316-660-7300.
Public-health officials advise routinely checking yards and neighborhood spaces and emptying or treating any items that collect water to reduce mosquito breeding. The county health official did not provide additional program dates, distribution limits, or an expiration date for the supply; those details were not specified in the announcement.
