Lexington County will continue to conduct its normal Vector Control operations, spokesman Harrison Cahill said.

In an e-mail to the Chronicle, Harrison wrote:

The County’s Vector Control division treats roadside ditches, retention and detention ponds that are along County-maintained roads.

We will not fog during the day while honey bees are actively foraging. Residents who do not want us to fog their area due to respiratory conditions or who have active bee hives may call the County’s vector control at (803) 785-8440.

The County does retain a list of bee keepers within the County, as well as residents who have called to notify of respiratory issues.

If an area needs fogging, after consideration of Vector Control staff, Vector Control will contact the aforementioned parties to notify them to close windows and cover bee hives, so as to not damage, hurt or destroy bee populations, or harm our residents.

Furthermore, we will respond to requests of citizens with mosquito issues, and, with permission from the resident, the County’s Vector Control will perform a mosquito survey of the resident’s property for free by checking potential mosquito breeding grounds, such as: tires, standing bodies of water, unkempt pools/pool covers, bird baths, etc.

The County’s Vector Control does not respond to tick/flea calls.

Those matters are left up to residents of the County to police their property with the appropriate tick/flea preventatives, which can be found at any local hardware/big box/landscape store.

Although the County does encourage residents to call Vector Control for mosquito-related questions and requests.

We also encourage residents to “police” their properties to ensure there are no areas of standing water, and that water in bird baths or pools are changed and inspected regularly.