GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — It’s officially mosquito season, but constant rain and a number of mosquito-borne viruses could make this one worse than others.
So how can you keep your family safe?
Experts say you can start by removing standing water and clearing out mulch, since mosquitoes sometimes lay their eggs there.
Lee Haag, with a mosquito control company called Buzz Free, showed us video of play equipment in Germantown infested with mosquito eggs.
“Usually the springtime is when we see the mosquitoes becoming most active,” said Haag.
Doctors say you also need to be on the look for signs of viruses like West Nile and Zika.
“Symptoms are very similar to influenza. Headache, fever, malaise or fatigue,” said Dr. Jeff Mullins with MidSouth Family Medicine.
Mullins said the best thing you can do to avoid contracting a virus is to not be bitten by a mosquito in the first place.
He recommends wearing long sleeves or using mosquito repellent.
Haag said his company offers an automatic mosquito spraying system that works similar to how sprinklers do.
You can set a timer, and chemicals will be sprayed during scheduled periods throughout the day.
WREG’s calls to the Shelby County Health Department were not returned.