The summer season has hardly started, but that has not stopped mosquitoes from causing problems as far north as Chicago, Illinois. This year is already shaping up to look like a mosquito heavy year, but happily, no mosquito-borne diseases have been reported among the American public yet. The latest mosquito news from the windy city involves an individual who is struggling to get his neighbor to remove a kiddie pool that is attracting large mosquito swarms to a Chicago neighborhood. As you probably already know, pools of open water attract mosquitoes that are looking to mate. Standing water provides mosquitoes with convenient breeding grounds. The man who complained about his neighbors pool of standing water posted his experience on Reddit. Since this man’s posting, several experts and members of the public have commented on the man’s dilemma.
A man using the moniker “hypocalypto” posted a question to Reddit asking how to handle a difficult neighbor’s refusal to respond to requests to have his pool drained in order to prevent mosquitoes from swarming in his neighborhood. The man is concerned for the safety of the people living in his neighborhood. Understably, he believes that neglecting the kiddie pool puts people in the region at risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases. The Reddit user described the neglected pool as containing dark green water that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The Reddit user, as well as his fellow neighbors have tried contacting the pool owner multiple times by phoning him, knocking on his door, and leaving notes on his door. Numerous people have responded to the man’s struggle by suggesting several solutions. These potential solutions included planting larva-eating fish in his pool, which is a sensible solution, and throwing tide pods over his fence, which is not so sensible. Eventually, the man returned to Reddit to explain that he sought out help by contacting the Chicago Department of Public Health. Unfortunately, health officials will not act on the situation until a period of time has passed.
Do you believe that the mosquito-borne disease risk facing the neighborhood is grounds for a lawsuit?