Video: Prepping For Mosquito Season

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — On Monday, the Center for Disease Control says the Zika virus outbreak is scarier than they initially thought.

According to USA Today, there have been 346 confirmed Zika cases in the united states.

With summer fast approaching, what are cities doing to combat the mosquito problem?

Tony Sykes is gearing up for mosquito season in Starkville.

He works for the city and operates the spray truck.

Sykes says the calls will start coming in soon for the sprayer on the streets.

“Normally about the first of May and we run morning shift and night,” said Sykes.

According to the CDC, all of the Zika cases in the U.S. were contracted overseas in Zika-prone countries.

That’s how an Oktibbeha County native contracted the virus.

“Only way we can get the Zika virus up here is someone already had the Zika virus and the mosquito got to go and bite that person then go and bite another person. That’s the only way they can transmit the Zika virus,” said Sykes.

Edward Kemp is the city engineer in Starkville.

He says in addition to spraying for mosquitoes, the city also uses larvicide pellets to kill the eggs.

“We apply that larvacide in all our drainage railways throughout the entire city multiple times each year,” said Kemp.

Kemp says as mosquito season draws closer, the city will remain committed to fighting off the pesky bugs.

“We also take a lot of advice and council from the Mississippi Department of Health, that is typically who gives us guidance on when to increase spraying, when to reduce. If there’s no more outbreaks, there’s a high population of mosquitoes,” said Kemp.

USA Today says the Obama administration lobbied congress for $1.9 billion to fight the virus.