By Seth Helton
Murray, KY – Extreme heat in Western Kentucky is causing more problems than heat exhaustion and high electric bills. A flood plagued spring followed by extreme heat these lat two weeks has prompted rapid growth in the mosquito population. Lexington's Public Health and Entomology Lab Director Grayson Brown says the stagnant water left from flooding combined with hot summer days has created a situation ideal for breeding.
"Normally this time of year the typical mosquito that bites people will go from egg to adult in about a week to ten days, now it's more like five days"
Brown says because these mosquitos are breeding in stagnant putrefied water they are more likely to likely transmit viral diseases. Brown also says members of his lab are working to reduce the generational turnover of these diseased mosquitoes by putting larvicide in those waters.