Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya, which can cause debilitating illness and death to humans as well as birds, horses and other wildlife. The Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District (GLACVCD) stresses the importance of taking preventative steps against mosquitoes.

A local government and public health agency dedicated to reducing populations of public health vectors and preventing human infection associated with mosquito-transmitted diseases, GLACVCD has issued the following tips to stay safe.

• Eliminate standing water around the home in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week. Mosquitoes lay eggs on the walls of water-filled containers and those eggs can hatch into biting adults in as little as five days. Scrub the containers to remove mosquito eggs as they stick like glue and hatch when exposed to water.

• Tightly cover water storage containers so mosquitoes can't get in to lay eggs.

• Ensure that swimming pools, spas and ponds are properly maintained.

• Change the water in pet dishes, birdbaths, flower pots and other small containers weekly.

• Request mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds.

• Report neglected (green) swimming pools to your vector control district.

• Mosquitoes are most active from late afternoon to the evening hours. Anyone outside during these hours should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and use insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus.

To help West Nile virus surveillance and control efforts, report dead birds at westnile.ca.gov. For more information and prevention tips, visit socalmosquito.org or call GLACVCD at (562) 944-9656 or visit glacvcd.org.