Columbia’s mosquito control truck sprays throughout the town every third day, William Davenport, program director, said Friday.

In addition, under a contract with Tyrrell County, the truck sprays most of Alligator township in the northeastern part of the county, also every third day, he explained.

This schedule is in contrast to activities in neighboring Hyde County.

On Friday, Luana Gibbs, RN, Hyde’s interim health director, issued a press release stating that “Mosquitos have become a huge nuisance to Hyde County since Hurricane Dorian, and as always, have the potential to cause health issues. Because we do not have a Mosquito Control Program on the Mainland, please implement the following measures for your protection:

• “Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
• “Avoid being outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitos are most active
• “Use insect repellent that contains DEET or Picaridin following the repellent label

directions. Do not apply on babies less than 2 months of age. Adults: Apply insect

repellent to your hands then apply to children’s faces.

• “Remove standing water on your property when possible (bird baths, buckets, old tires, trash containers, flowerpots, etc.).”

Even with a mosquito control program in Columbia and Alligator, Gibbs’s recommendations are equally applicable here.

To forestall complaints from inhabitants unacquainted with the legalities, Gibbs also noted that “Ocracoke Islanders have their own Mosquito Control District funded by taxes paid by the Ocracoke property owners. This District was specially developed and entered General Statutes several years ago. Currently, any spraying Ocracoke receives is a result of this District.

“Protect yourself and your families by doing your part, follow the above directions, and stay safe!” Gibbs concluded.