Environmental Health Spotlights Prevention, Public and Bee Hive Safety
Pitt County is observing National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, June 15–21, 2025, by reminding residents about mosquito-borne disease prevention and public safety around mosquito control operations—including an important message: Do not tailgate mosquito management trucks.
Mosquito control teams play a critical role in reducing the threat of diseases like West Nile virus, Zika, and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Pitt County Environmental Health operates marked mosquito management trucks, which may be moving slowly while applying treatments such as larvicides or adulticides in residential neighborhoods, parks or along roadsides.
“For your safety and ours, we urge all drivers to maintain a safe distance behind our mosquito management trucks,” says Amanda Morrison, Pitt County Vector Control Program Manager. “These vehicles may stop or slow suddenly, and treatments may be released into the air. Tailgating puts you at risk and disrupts our efforts to protect public health.”
Safety Tips During Mosquito Control Operations: · Do not tailgate or pass active mosquito management trucks. · Be aware of posted signs or public notices about spray schedules and treatment areas. · If residents prefer to stay indoors and close windows when spraying takes place they can, but it is not necessary. The spray is not harmful to pets, but owners may opt to bring them inside when spraying occurs.
“Education and prevention are key,” says Wes Gray, Pitt County Public Health Director. “By eliminating standing water around homes, using insect repellent and supporting local mosquito control programs, we can significantly reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness.”
3D’s of protection - Drain, Dress and Defend:
Drain:
- Dispose of old tires. Tires can breed thousands of mosquitos.
- Dump standing water in buckets, flower pots and planters, children’s toys and tarps or pool covers.
- Clean out gutters and unclog drains.
- Clean pet water dishes and bird baths regularly.
Dress:
- Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing.
- Long sleeves and pants are recommended when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk.
Defend:
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Report areas of standing water to local vector control.
- Stay informed about local mosquito control programs and participate when possible.
Register Apiaries (Bee Hives) with NC Bee Check
If a Pitt County resident keeps bees, they should register apiaries at NC Bee Check. Registration is free. Knowing locations of apiaries allows Vector Control to avoid spraying near hives, reducing the risk to pollinators.
“Participation in bee hive registration makes a big difference in keeping our environment healthy and our bees safe,” says Kent Keeter, Environmental Health Director.
Public Service Announcements:
Pitt County Government will feature prevention and public safety posts on its Facebook pages @PittCountyNC, @PittCountyEM and @PublicHealth. The website PittCountyNC.gov will display similar information on the homepage, Environmental Health, Emergency Management and Public Health pages.