OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - The Douglas County Health Department is using larvicide briquettes to kill mosquitoes in breeding ponds and trapping two species, according to release Wednesday.
The goal is to prevent the spread of the West Nile and Zika viruses.
According to health director Dr. Adi Pour, the West Nile virus has already made its way to to Nebraska, while much is still unknown about Zika. The release said Aedes Albopictus, a breed of a mosquito that bites during daylight hours, is most the likely species to carry Zika in Nebraska.
The department plans to track the mosquito population and trap them every two weeks to test for viruses.
The DCHD is also collecting dead birds to test for the West Nile virus. Last year, there were seven cases of the West Nile virus in Douglas County.
