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Mosquitoes still active

By John Nixon

10/02/2025

(KNZA)--As cooler weather begins to set in, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reminds Nebraskans that mosquitoes will remain active until the first hard freeze, making it important to continue following preventive measures and protect against mosquito bites.

State Epidemiologist, Dr. Sydney Stein says until we experience a sustained hard freeze, we will continue to see mosquito activity.

If you are going to be outdoors, you should continue to take preventative measures to protect yourself from mosquitoes that could be carrying diseases such as West Nile Virus.

People can reduce their risk of mosquito borne illnesses by:

Use a repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, or IR3535.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks when outside.
Take extra precautions when going outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
Drain standing water around your home. Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted trays at least once a week, if not more often.
Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.
Make sure window and door screens are “bug tight" and repair or replace torn screens.
As of September 29, 2025, the DHHS Vector-borne Disease Program has tested over 36,000 mosquitoes from over 1,800 mosquito pools across Nebraska.