Mosquitoes are both incredibly annoying, and also potentially dangerous. In Indiana, we have roughly 55 distinct species of mosquitoes. Of those 55 species, 12-15 carry with them a public health concern. Mosquitoes are known to carry various diseases that can be transmitted to humans, from West Nile Virus to LaCrosse Encephalitis. Each year, approximately 725,000 people across the globe die from a mosquito-borne illness, making mosquitoes the deadliest animal on the planet.
The Hancock County Health Department conducts mosquito surveillance through the use of traps, in an effort to identify the species of mosquitoes most common in a given area. In turn, these mosquitoes are tested by the Indiana Department of Health for infection of any number of known mosquito-borne diseases. In performing this surveillance, the Health Department is able to educate the public of steps to prevent not only mosquito bites, but possible infection as well. Part of this surveillance activity involves regulation enforcement, to disallow property to be maintained in such a way as to promote mosquito breeding and harborage.
If you have a mosquito related complaint, contact us by phone, or fill out and submit the complaint form located on either the "Environmental Health Division" page, or under "Applications & Forms" in the menu.
For further information, please download and view the Hancock County "Fight the Bite" flyer. This has crucial knowledge of how to protect not only yourself and your loved ones, but also how you can help to protect the community around you. For questions, comments, or mosquito related concerns, please contact the Health Department at (317) 477-1125, or email dadams@hancockcoingov.org.