The Saline County Health Department has started an initiative to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes in standing water. Every Wednesday is “Dump Day,” where standing water should be dumped to prevent mosquitoes laying eggs.

Zika Virus, according to the Center for Disease Control, is primarily spread through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti, a species of mosquito otherwise known as the “container-breeding mosquito.” These mosquitoes lay their eggs on the walls of man made water containers, and when their eggs come into contact with water, they hatch and become biting adults in a matter of days. Other dangerous diseases carried by mosquitoes include: Dengue Virus, Malaria, West Nile Virus, and Yellow Fever.

It is recommended to dump any container that holds water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, trash cans, pet bowls, or vases. It only takes a few infected mosquitoes to cause a large outbreak, and by dumping standing water at least once a week, you can help prevent it.