Pest control experts encourage disposal of stagnant water amid Zika concerns

In a matter of days the number of locally transmitted Zika cases jumped from four to 15, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to do something it’s never done before -- issue a travel warning to an area inside the continental U.S.

Pregnant women are being urged to avoid nonessential travel to one downtown Miami neighborhood where health officials say there is active Zika transmission.

Peninsular Pest Control’s technical director, George Richardson, said they’ve seen an increase in calls because of the Zika concern.

“People don't realize that 10 to 14 days ... Boom! One mosquito can turn into hundreds,” said Richardson.

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Richardson said stagnant water around your home is a breeding ground, especially in birdbaths and fountains.

“We've got mosquito larvae that, we can see, we've got standing water. This water has only been here about two weeks,” said Richardson.

According to Richardson, the species known to carry the Zika virus tends to live and breed near humans.

“We create environments for the mosquitoes to reproduce. That's why it's so important to just survey your landscape,” said Richardson.

Richardson said mosquitos don’t need very much water to reproduce. Even water inside a bottle cap can be enough for breeding.

He also suggest you keep the pump running in a birdbath or fountain at your home, because mosquitoes don’t like to breed in water that is constantly moving.

Cox Media Group