Harris County Public Health Kicks Off Mosquito Season with News Conference,
Presents Ways to Defend Residents from Mosquito-Borne Diseases
HOUSTON – Summer is typically the time of year when families enjoy numerous outdoor activities, like swimming, cookouts, outings at an event, and other seasonal pastimes. However, along with these activities come the heat, humidity, and … those pesky mosquitoes!
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) will announce the start of the 2024 mosquito season during a press conference on April 16 at the department’s Mosquito and Vector Control Division (MVCD). HCPH reminds all residents to do their part to control the mosquito population and prevent the spread of mosquito-borne disease by practicing simple prevention measures.
WHAT: Mosquito season kickoff news conference with HCPH Executive Director Barbie Robinson and MVCD Director Maximea “Max” Vigilant. Immediately after the press conference, MVCD will conduct a brief media tour of its facility to showcase the services it provides to track and control mosquito-borne diseases throughout Harris County.
WHERE: HCPH Mosquito and Vector Control Division (In front of the main entrance)
3330 Old Spanish Trail, Bldg. D
Houston, Texas 77021
WHEN: Tuesday, April 16, 10 a.m.
WHO: Barbie L. Robinson, MPP, JD, CHC, Executive Director, Harris County Public Health
Maximea “Max” Vigilant, DrPH, MPH, Director, Mosquito and Vector Control Division, HCPH
WHY: Summer’s hot and humid conditions in the Texas Gulf Coast region create the perfect breeding
conditions for mosquitoes, and Harris County is home to about 56 different species. However,
only a few mosquito species can carry diseases that make people sick, cause birth defects or can even be fatal in a few extreme cases. Residents can take a few simple steps (e.g., “tip, toss, take action”) to protect themselves and their loved ones from mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), chikungunya or Zika virus.