Public Asked to Help Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sources This Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 19, 2025

With the onset of mosquito season in Southern Nevada, the public is encouraged to help fight mosquitoes by eliminating common breeding sources such as green pools and areas or containers where standing water in yards and patios can accumulate.

Any standing body of water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which can carry serious diseases such as the West Nile and Zika viruses. Green pools are pools that turn green from algae and bacteria due to equipment failure or neglect. The public can help eliminate the blight and health dangers of green pools by reporting them to local code enforcement agencies. If located in unincorporated Clark County, call (702) 455-4191 or file a complaint through the County website at www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/FixIt. Last year the County responded to 436 complaints about green pools.

“Green pools are ugly and they quickly become breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” said Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Chairman of the Southern Nevada Health District’s Board of Health. “It’s a priority for Clark County to respond to complaints about green pools because they put the public health of our community at risk. You also can prevent mosquitoes outside your home by making sure you don’t have any water collecting in planters, buckets or from leaky drip systems or sprinklers.”

The Southern Nevada Health District conducts mosquito surveillance from March through the fall each year to monitor mosquito populations for diseases including West Nile Virus (WNV), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), Zika virus and Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLEV). Information about the program is available on the Health District’s website at www.snhd.info/mosquito. Mosquito activity tends to increase in Southern Nevada during the hotter months but varies year to year.

Last season, WNV activity was detected in May, and the first human case was reported in early June. A total of 26 human cases (including 14 neuroinvasive cases) were reported for the season. Health District staff set more than 3,400 mosquito surveillance traps at 800 distinct sites throughout Clark County. From these traps, 51,204 mosquitoes, representing 3,567 mosquito testing pools, were submitted for analysis to the Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory. Of the mosquito pools tested, 388 were positive for WNV, and 21 were positive for SLEV.

“Every season we remind our residents and visitors that we do have mosquitoes in Southern Nevada, and that we all need to take steps to protect ourselves from mosquito bites and to limit areas where they can breed around our homes and neighborhoods,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District.

“Take time to apply an EPA-registered insect repellent if you are spending time outdoors, and tip and toss containers, toys and any items that may collect water around your home. We can all help to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses through preventive measures.”

Different types of mosquitoes spread different viruses. Some types may be more active at dawn and dusk while the Aedes aegypti mosquito is an aggressive daytime biter that prefers feeding on people instead of birds. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are known carriers of Zika, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases.

Officials say even small containers can collect water and become breeding sources for mosquitoes. Residents are advised to clear roof gutters of debris, repair leaky outdoor faucets, dispose of old tires, clean pet dishes regularly, check and empty toys, and empty water collected on tarps or pool covers. The Health District’s annual “Fight the Bite” campaign offers tips for minimizing exposure to mosquito bites. Suggestions include:

When outdoors, use insect repellants containing DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors and spray repellent on clothes and exposed skin.
Make sure doors and window have tight-fitting screens without tears or holes.

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About Clark County: Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.4 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2023). Included are the nation’s 5th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.