Is your facility ready for Zika?

August 30, 2016

Tips on preparing your property

Is your facility ready for the Zika virus? Health officials have confirmed local transmissions of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties. Preparing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan with your cleaning and maintenance provider proves more important than ever for the safety and comfort of your building’s occupants. An effective IPM plan protects through a three-prong approach: sanitation, maintenance and prevention. To ensure coverage on all fronts from pest-transmitted diseases such as the Zika virus, consider these tips when outlining your long-term strategy.

Water War

Known as a “container-breeding mosquito” because it likes to lay eggs in and around standing water, the “Aedes aegypti” mosquito beed carries the virus. Discussions about eliminating standing water has typically focused on outside hot zones, such as roof gutters and puddles. But the typical facility also hides potential breeding grounds indoors, from the lobby fountain to decorative plant pots. Discuss with your provider about your building’s potential vulnerable spots, as well as a strategic regimen to manage such conditions. Regularly cleaning containers, including decorative pools and fountains, proves essential.

Safe Seal

Half the battle is keeping the pests out. So discuss with your provider about any potential points of vulnerability where mosquitoes could gain access. They can be a valuable resource in monitoring for cracked sealants or broken window screen mesh throughout your building. Your cleaning provider may also already offer light maintenance services that could also regularly repair such issues when they arise.

Down the Drain

One popular breeding spot for mosquitoes could be where least expected – down your drains. Mosquitoes can take up residence in the stagnant water within your plumbing and sneak up the pipes into your facility. Flushing the drains more frequently with water or chemicals is one solution. An easy non-chemical solution is to insert a “Green Drain” – a specially designed system that can easily fit in existing floor drains, which keeps bugs out while letting water flow through smoothly It also blocks any sewer gases from arising. Visit here for more information about the Green Drain, or talk to your cleaning/maintenance provider.