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Mosquitos Arise in South Hampton Roads Area

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Millions of mosquitoes have emerged in South Hampton Roads cities following a period of heavy rain.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that officials in the area have been inundated with requests to get rid of the bugs. Cities such as Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach have received more reports than usual and have been spraying for mosquitoes across the area.

Chesapeake Mosquito Control Commission Director Dreda Symonds says the problem stems from pools of water that sit for more than a week. When that happens, mosquitoes tend to emerge.

Symonds says floodwater mosquitoes don't typically transmit disease, but they can bite people frequently. She says that once city officials reach each area, residents should see the number of mosquitoes go down.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.