The Health Department will begin surveillance of mosquitoes for West Nile virus this month.
Mosquito traps are set and collected in 12 areas of the City on a weekly basis each year from April through October, and mosquitoes are sent to a lab to test for the West Nile virus. If a mosquito sample tests positive for the virus, the management area surrounding the sample’s trap is sprayed. In addition, if a resident is diagnosed with West Nile virus, surveillance traps are placed at or near the person’s home, and spraying is scheduled if a mosquito from these traps tests positive for the virus.
The Health Department schedules West Nile virus spraying to begin at 9 p.m. to limit exposure to people who may wish to avoid contact with the pesticide used to control mosquito populations. The goal is to end by 4 a.m., though it may last until 4:30 a.m. depending upon the size of the spray area. Targeted neighborhoods are sprayed twice, on two consecutive nights (Wednesday and Thursday).
Scheduled spraying is postponed/canceled due to rain, wind speeds greater than 10 mph and/or an outside temperature below 50 degrees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
The best way to protect yourself from mosquito-borne viruses is by following “The Four D’s”:
•Drain standing water
•Avoid being out at Dusk and Dawn
•Dress in long sleeves and pants
•Apply insect repellent containing DEET or other effective repellents all day every day
Additionally, residents can apply commercially available pesticides according to the label to areas that harbor mosquitoes such as shrubs, groundcover, under raised decks and around storage areas.
Visit www.cor.net/mosquito to sign up for the e-notification list and for information about the products used in the City’s spraying and an interactive map of all 12 management areas. Mosquito spraying alerts are also sent out via Nextdoor.
