Beaufort Co. Mosquito Control tests area where deadly disease was found, no source discovered

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - WTOC is getting an inside look at the mosquito testing facility in Beaufort County.

It’s where they test pesky insects for deadly diseases, like Eastern Equine Encephalitis or Triple E, which killed someone in the county last week.

It’s the first time that’s happened in over twenty years in South Carolina.

“It’s always terrible when you hear of a death, especially one from a rare mosquito-borne disease,” Director of Beaufort County Mosquito Control, Robert Cartner, said.

The area of the case was less than three miles from a trap that was set out by Mosquito Control.

Following the announcement, officials say they performed multiple spraying applications for mosquitoes by truck in the area and even set out six additional traps.

The results from those traps came in this week.

“Mosquitos that we collected in there were tested for triple e, they were tested for West Nile Virus, and they were St. Louis Encephalitis Virus,” Cartner said. “They were tested this week, and we haven’t found anything ‘yet’”.

Cartner says they put out traps weekly around the county and will continue to put them out around the area of the deadly case for the next month, or until the mosquito population goes down.

He says they also do routine sprays around the county by helicopter or plane around the county to control the population of the insect, which takes place at night.

In Beaufort County alone, there are over 50 different species of mosquitoes.

Throughout the year, scientists in Beaufort County are testing these mosquitoes at their lab off Shanklin Road in Beaufort.

The process is not a short one, but it helps them identify different types and see if any of them are carrying any deadly diseases.

“There are so many different mosquito species that can transmit triple e, there are so many different habitats. It’s not like West Nile, which generally we know that there is one type of habitat you might find the mosquitoes in.”

If you are having a mosquito problem at your home and there is no nearby trap or the plane or helicopter hasn’t flown over recently, you can send in those concerns to Mosquito Control.

DPH recommends following the “7 Ts” to keep your home and yard mosquito-free:

• TIP over anything that can hold water, such as toys, plant saucers or vases. To disrupt mosquito breeding cycles, change water often, even daily, in items like dog bowls and bird baths.
• TOSS or recycle any unwanted yard items that may collect water, such as old tires, junk, or trash.
• TURN over items that can hold water like children’s pools, wheelbarrows, or buckets.
• TIGHTEN tarps over items like boats, wood piles, grills, and pools.
• TAKE CARE of your property. Clean out debris from ditches, drains, and gutters. Keep grass cut low and trim or remove overgrown plants.
• TREAT items that can’t be drained or emptied with appropriate mosquito control products.
• TEAM UP and talk with neighbors about reducing mosquitoes in and around your home and neighborhood.