Four Lakes task force
Chippewa Nature Center
Disease Surveillance
Surveillance includes trapping, dipping, mapping, analyzing weather and history, taking phone calls, and monitoring the life cycle and biology of mosquitoes.
Michigan maintains a list of emerging mosquito-borne diseases throughout the state. Check back here during mosquito season to monitor the status of your area.
Mosquito-borne diseases:
- West Nile Virus
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis
- Jamestown Canyon Virus
- Dog Heartworm
How we practice disease surveillance:
- Collect adult mosquitoes from traps set up within the county.
- Select biting female mosquitoes, not males, and we classify them by species.
- Only certain species are vectors for disease meaning not every mosquito bite can lead to diseases.
- Retrieve and test dead Crows, Ravens, and Blue Jays.
If you found a dead Crow, Raven, or Blue Jay please call us at (989) 832-8677.
WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE LIVE BIRDS
Reducing Risk of Mosquito Borne Disease in Midland County, MI
This is Midland County Mosquito Control's primary objective with the assistance of the CDC and other government agencies providing detailed information on types of mosquito diseases and prevention steps. The best course of action to help prevent mosquito-borne disease transmission is by wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents, and avoiding being outside during sunrise and sunset.
West Nile virus is transmitted
- Commonly by the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Mosquitoes become infected when feeding on infected birds.
West Nile virus is NOT transmitted:
- Through coughing, sneezing, or touching
- By touching live animals
- From handling live or dead infected birds. Care should be taken if handling a dead animal. Use gloves or double plastic bags to dispose in a garbage can.
- Through eating infected animals, including birds. Always follow instructions for fully cooking meat.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is transmitted by:
- Bites from infected mosquitoes.
- Infected birds transmitting virus to “Bridge Vector” mosquitoes which feed on large mammals.
- Organ transplantation from infected donor.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is NOT transmitted by:
- Coughing, sneezing, touching, or contact with an infected person or horse.
There is a vaccine to prevent EEE virus infection in horses, but not humans.
Jamestown Canyon virus is transmitted by:
- Bites from infected mosquito.
- Deer and other mammals amplify disease transmission.
Jamestown Canyon virus is not transmitted by:
- Person-to-person or person-to-mosquito-to-person.
- Coughing, sneezing, touching, or other contact with an infected person.
Dirofiliaria (Dog Heartworm) are long, thin parasitic roundworms that infect a variety of mammals. Infection is transmitted by mosquito bites.
Dog Heartworm is transmitted by:
- Mosquito bites, mainly domestic dogs, wild canids (wolves and foxes), and raccoons.
- Aedes, Anopheles, and Mansonia mosquito species are main vectors.
- Humans and many other mammals are accidental hosts that do not transmit Dog Heartworm.
Dog Heartworm is NOT transmitted by:
- Person-to-person contact or person-to-mosquito-to-person.
