Going to Jail for Mosquitoes

FAIRFAX, Va. (September 28, 2013) – A man in Georgia was sentenced yesterday to 60 days in jail for not properly maintaining a swimming pool on his property. The pool had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes which can carry many diseases such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half inch of water. Regularly emptying pots, old tires, bird baths and other containers after it rains can help lower the local mosquito population. It is also recommended to cover pools when they’re not in use and remove water from the cover after rain.