The City or County is responsible for Mosquito Surveillance and Control. 

Local government planning

Local governmental officials are on the front line and play a crucial role in protecting the public from West Nile virus.

Local governments should consider what role they will play in preventing West Nile virus from spreading in their community.  Because of limited resources, local governments may want to join together and address some of these issues on a regional basis.  Listed below are four ways local government can become involved.

* Establish a local or regional mosquito surveillance program.
* Eliminate or treat any mosquito breeding sites, as necessary.
* Develop systems for responding to citizen complaints of mosquitoes or standing water.
* Educate citizens on West Nile virus and how to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.

Virginia law gives local governments the authority to control mosquitoes through the creation of local mosquito control districts. The district can represent one locality or an entire region encompassing several cities, counties or towns. The mosquito control district can manage mosquito surveillance, mosquito control, help eliminate standing water, and conduct public education. Local governments also can conduct these activities without establishing a mosquito control district.

Public education is an important part of any mosquito control program.  Some mosquito species breed in artificial containers and these containers are generally found on private property, (e.g., around homes, farms and in back yards) and are too numerous and widely scattered to allow larval control by mosquito control personnel.  Furthermore, many of the container-breeding mosquitoes fly only during the daytime and cannot be controlled with nighttime applications of adulticide.  Public education spreads the word to citizens that they should police their own properties for mosquito breeding habitats, and protect themselves against mosquito bites. 

Local governments may make use of other resources, such as �larvicides� (chemicals that kill immature mosquitoes) applied to standing water where mosquitoes breed, or �adulticides� (chemicals that kill adult mosquitoes) to control mosquito populations in an area, especially if people have been infected.  Check with your local government for more information about programs to control disease-carrying mosquitoes in your area.

Contact your city or county government about standing water on public property

The Public Works Department is usually the recommended contact for the locality.   There may not be a local ordinance. Check with your local government to see if there are any ordinances to address your question or situation.