Mosquito Control

Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services

Mosquito Control Division

A Message from the Director for Mosquito Control

The Mosquito Control Division District was established by a countywide election in November 1964. This action was in response to a Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) outbreak that occurred earlier that year. During the outbreak, there were 376 confirmed cases and 34 deaths caused by SLE.

The program became active in 1965, and in 1995, the Mosquito Control District became a division of the Harris County Health Department, later renamed as Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services (HCPHES).

At its formation in 1965, Mosquito Control was primarily involved in the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases in particular SLE. With the introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) into the United States in 1999 and its eventual spread to Harris County in 2002, WNV quickly became another important disease concern. In order to address these issues, Mosquito Control incorporated integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is “the artful management of pests in the best interests of humans in terms of their health, economy, and overall quality of their environment…using systems of integrated natural and applied control tactics”. Key components of IPM include mosquito/bird surveillance, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, insecticide resistance management, innovative applied research, and educational outreach. These components direct enhanced resource management for disease prevention and control activities. Pest mosquito control is done only when mosquito populations of certain pest species meet the Division's policy criterion.

Throughout the years, Mosquito Control has developed strong partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of State Health Services, and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. These partnerships enhance Mosquito Control’s capacity to protect the public health from WNV and SLE.

Welcome to the PHES Mosquito Control Website and the Amazing World of Mosquitoes!

Rudy Bueno, Jr., PhD.

For more information contact:
Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services
Mosquito Control Division
3330 Old Spanish Trail, Bldg. D, Houston, Texas 77021
Phone: (713)440-4800 Fax: ( 713)440-4795

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Last updated: September 21, 2007
Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services
2223 West Loop South
Houston, TX 77027
Tel: (713) 439-6000
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