Fighting mosquito-borne disease comes down to two habits: preventing mosquito bites and removing the standing water where mosquitoes breed. Infected mosquitoes can spread viruses such as West Nile, dengue, Zika and chikungunya to people, and heartworm to pets. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company, based in Orem, Utah, whose services include mosquito treatment. This guide covers the main diseases, how communities control mosquitoes and the steps that work in your own yard, alongside the integrated pest management approach Saela uses.
Which diseases do mosquitoes spread?
- West Nile virus – Spread mainly by the bite of an infected mosquito; most infected people have no symptoms, but the CDC’s West Nile virus overview reports that each year more than 1,300 people develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system. Saela’s West Nile virus guide covers symptoms and prevention in more detail.
- Zika – Spread to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes, and also through sex and from mother to baby during pregnancy, according to the CDC’s Zika overview; infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.
- Dengue – Mainly spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito; up to 400 million people are infected each year, according to the CDC, mostly in tropical and subtropical areas, with symptoms such as fever, aches, nausea and rash.
- Chikungunya – Spread through the bites of infected mosquitoes, with fever and joint pain as the most common symptoms; the CDC lists outbreaks in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- Heartworm – A disease of pets, mainly dogs, cats and ferrets, spread through the bite of a mosquito; the FDA’s heartworm guide recommends year-round prevention prescribed by your veterinarian.
Do all mosquitoes spread disease?
No: only some mosquitoes spread germs. According to the CDC, over 3,700 types of mosquitoes are found worldwide; some are vectors that can spread germs, while nuisance mosquitoes bite but do not. Telling species apart takes trained identification, and Saela’s protocols come from Dennis Weiss, who holds the Entomological Society of America’s Board Certified Entomologist credential.
How do communities reduce the spread of mosquito-borne disease?
Public mosquito control works best as integrated mosquito management, which the EPA describes as a combination of methods with decisions based on surveillance, meaning tracking the numbers and types of mosquitoes in an area. Its tactics include removing mosquito habitats, using structural barriers, and controlling mosquitoes as larvae and as adults. The EPA also notes that residents, neighbors and landlords can all be proactive in eliminating standing water, so local programs work best with help at home, starting with what attracts mosquitoes to your yard.
How can you reduce mosquitoes in your yard?
Start by removing the water mosquitoes need to breed: the CDC’s steps for controlling mosquitoes at home say to empty and scrub, turn over, cover or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, birdbaths and flowerpot saucers, once a week. Tightly cover rain barrels and other water storage containers so mosquitoes can’t lay eggs inside. For persistent biting, Saela’s mosquito treatments mist resting sites such as shaded foliage and areas beneath porches. In a February 2024 Google review, a customer named Vicky described Saela’s service as “Excellent, great communication, thoughtful and cautious to my personal requests.”
Saela quotes each property on pest type, location, property size, visit frequency and treatment products, so compare plan options first. When you’re ready, book a call with Saela to talk through mosquito treatment for your yard.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
