Jefferson County office giving away free mosquito dunk kits, hoping to curb Zika virus

Summer is coming, which means the mosquitoes are on their way, too.

To keep the mosquito population under control this season, and to hopefully lessen the chances of the Zika virus, Jefferson County Storm Water Management is giving away free mosquito dunk kits.

The Zika virus is transmitted through Aedes species mosquitoes, and has been linked to birth defects in pregnant women.

The kits cover about 100 square feet, but can be broken up into pieces for smaller areas, Lynn DiClemente, the Education and Training Manager for the department, said.

The most recent two cases were reported in Jefferson and Shelby counties. The state’s first Zika case was confirmed Feb. 10 in Morgan County.

The dunk kits are a “bacteriological way to control the water and prevent larvae from developing into full-grown mosquitoes,” she said.

The kits are effective for 30 days and can be placed in areas where standing water cannot be dumped, like in bird baths, horse troughs, and dog bowls. The kits do not harm any animal or human, she said.

“This won’t obliterate all mosquitoes from your yard, but it will help control the population… getting rid of a few is better than nothing!” she said.

The department has already given away many kits already this year, because of the looming threat of the Zika virus.

Three people in Alabama have tested positive for the virus.

Anyone can pick up a kit from the Storm Water Management office, located in the Jefferson County Courthouse, room B-210, and are open Monday-Friday from 7:30-4:30.