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News Release: Update 2009 Mosquito Season
Recent rains are
leaving behind stagnant water providing habitat for mosquitoes.
Mosquito samples collected reflect a significant increase in the
adult mosquito population. This has led to an increase in adult
mosquito prevention inquiries from County residents. Mosquitoes
carry disease including West Nile Virus. Cumberland County
participates in the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Surveillance
Program.
The County will
take additional measures to monitor and suppress the mosquito
population and limit the potential for West Nile Virus. Beginning
Tuesday, June 2, 2009, the County Vector Control Office will be
adding treatments known as mosquito “adulticiding”; spraying areas
where adult mosquito populations are very high. This method
involves using an ultra low volume sprayer, mounted on the bed of a
truck, dispensing an adult mosquito control material (see website or
call for control product information) during the early evening
hours. This is an effort to provide relief in residential
neighborhood areas experiencing problems in the western and southern
County municipalities where source habitat is difficult to access.
Not all habitat
is large or obvious. Homeowners can play a vital role in identifying
habitat on their property and in neighborhoods. It is important for
residents in all locales to look around their home and properties
for potential mosquito breeding habitat. There are many objects
around the home which may contain water providing habitat for
mosquitoes. Artificial water habitats include but are not limited
to:
Discarded
containers, buckets, yard toys
Bird baths, ornamental ponds, pool covers
Clogged roof gutters, storm drains
Unused uncovered boats, wheelbarrows, ceramic pots
The simplest and
most economical solution is to empty the water from the container
and render it so that it will not hold water again. If that is not
possible (ornamental ponds and such), there are products that the
homeowner can purchase at a lawn and garden store to place in the
water that will inhibit mosquito growth. A listing of some of those
products is available on the Vector Control Webpage.
In addition to
mosquitoes and West Nile Virus, Vector Control provides information
or referrals for residents on household pests and wildlife. The
office also administers and participates in control programs for
Gypsy Moth, and the Black Fly.
See the Vector
Control website for additional information (www.ccpa.net/vector),
and/or the DEP State website
www.westnile.state.pa.us or phone
240-7808.
Evening Control
Program
Vector Control
conducts an Adult Mosquito Control program by responding to
residential areas where high adult mosquito populations exist.
A truck mounted Ultra Low Volume Sprayer is used to distribute an
adult mosquito control spray product.
Since adult mosquitoes are mostly active after dusk, spraying is
scheduled evenings between 8 and 11pm. Ideally, you may wish to
avoid being out at that time.
However, if the truck is spraying while you are out, avoid being
directly in the spray path. The nozzle on the truck is angled
upward and the materials droplet sizes are intended for the material
to rise and travel in the slight breeze. Generally, the material
travels with the direction of the breeze. The truck operator is
instructed to stop spraying when there is a passerby.
Sign up for an automatic email notification of
spray events on the website, www.ccpa.net/vector
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