Fight against mosquitoes ramps up after Harvey floods

MISSOURI CITY, Texas (KTRK) -- "Yeah, it's too much, man," Missouri City resident Edson Flores said.

No matter where you look, it is everywhere.

"It's not coming in two or threes," resident Dana Barger said. "It's coming in, wow, a bunch."

Though floodwaters receded in the Riverstone neighborhood, what is left behind in these wet trash piles on the curb and water around the yard are a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

"I've just noticed that every time I'm outside, I'm getting bitten," Barger said.

Like a number of places, the city of Rosenberg is spraying for mosquitoes twice a week now. Missouri City is also increasing its spraying, adding one additional spray per week.

"We are concentrating on areas with puddles of water, parks and open spaces," Missouri City public works director Shashi Kris Kimar said. "We intend to do this for the next six weeks and monitor the situation."

First up to attack: any large areas near water, parks and bayous.

Harris County Mosquito Control is keeping track of each area where mosquitoes are discovered, testing them for any disease and then spraying.

"I think every citizen has a little bit of responsibility if you have open pots or pans, water standing in your backyard, there are some things you can do to alleviate the mosquitos," Kimar said.

Looking ahead, ground spraying may not be enough to keep the massive number of mosquitos under control.

Harris County is considering aerial spraying soon as well while people cope.