Vector Control

Forsyth County Department of Public Health Division of Environmental Health Vector Control Section

The Forsyth County Vector Control Section provides consultation and investigates complaints concerning mosquitoes, ticks, bed bugs, and rat bites when a rat has bitten a human. The primary emphasis of the Section is on mosquito control activities. Personnel in this Section are licensed as Public Pesticide Operators in the Public Health category by the North Carolina Pesticide Board.

The Section applies integrated pest management (IPM) practices and provides educational information concerning pest management, the safe use of repellents, on-site demonstrations of source reduction control methods, and the safe use of environmentally friendly biological and chemical control methods.

This Section functions in a pro-active manner working to eliminate mosquito habitat and/or utilize biological and chemical products that target the larval stages of mosquitoes. The Vector Control Section actively searches for water sources which nurture and sustain mosquito larva. Once habitat is located, property owners are provided information on how to manage their own property using IPM practices. If the site is large, the Vector Control Section will monitor and treat as necessary to prevent future mosquito hatches.

Such pro-active methods like reducing the number of larval mosquitoes in a community, is a standard preventive practice that not only reduces the numbers of pest mosquitoes, but also reduces the potential for mosquito-borne disease transmission to humans and domestic animals in the community.

There are currently seven mosquito-borne diseases found in humans and/or their pets in North Carolina, with the most common being West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and La Crosse viruses, plus dog heartworm. Currently, the Section traps adult mosquitoes in various locations of the county, identifies the species trapped, and tests pools of trapped mosquitoes for the prevalence of the West Nile Virus. The data collected is utilized to determine an appropriate plan of action to reduce the exposure of citizens of Forsyth County to mosquito-borne diseases.

The Forsyth County Vector Control Section strives to provide a quality program that educates, protects and minimizes the potential for spread of disease in the community.

• Submit a Request or Complaint
• Mosquito Control
• Frequently Asked Questions