Tonight: City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board to Conduct Mosquito Abatement
NEW ORLEANS — In response to elevated numbers of mosquitoes in surveillance traps this week, the City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct area-wide adulticide application by truck and airplane tonight throughout the Upper and Lower 9th Ward and on the West Bank from Algiers Point to the Lower Coast. Treatments will be conducted from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., weather permitting.
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The NOMTRCB urges residents of New Orleans to protect themselves from biting mosquitoes and West Nile virus by eliminating standing water and following personal and home protection guidelines. Please continue reading for more detailed information.
Reducing the Risk of Mosquito-borne Diseases:
Mosquito Breeding, Source Reduction, and Personal and Home Protection
The NOMTRCB submits weekly mosquito samples from throughout the city for detection of arboviruses of medical importance, including West Nile virus (WNV). As of June 29, 2020, no human cases have been reported and no WNV+ mosquitoes have been detected in Orleans Parish. West Nile virus is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) that cycles between wild birds and mosquitoes. It can be transmitted to humans and some other animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. While the majority of WNV infections are asymptomatic, the virus can sometimes cause severe illness, especially in immunocompromised individuals or those over 65 years old.
We urge residents to actively protect themselves from biting mosquitoes.
- Limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
- Use air-conditioning and keep window and door screens in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
- If outside for long periods of time, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
- If outside, sit in the airstream of a fan.
- The CDC recommends using repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients including DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. *When using repellent, always follow the recommendations on the product label, including re-application rates.
In addition to preventing bites, we urge residents to help reduce mosquito populations by eliminating breeding sites around their homes. Mosquitoes can breed in less than a teaspoon of standing water and can develop from egg to adult in as little as seven days. It is important to check your yards and porches for potential mosquito breeding sources, especially after heavy rains.
- Empty and turn over children’s pools, buckets, trash cans, toys, plant pot trays, and anything else that can collect water.
- Remove trash and clutter, including discarded tires, buckets, tarps, loose trash bags, and any other items that might collect water.
- Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed, such as pet dishes or bird baths. Scrub the insides of the container walls each week to remove dormant mosquito eggs.
- Rain barrels and other water collection devices must be screened; collected water should be used within one week.
- Aerate ornamental pools, fountains and sugar kettles or stock them with fish.
- Make sure swimming pools and fountains are operational and circulating.
- Report illegal dumping, water leaks, and unattended swimming pools to 311.
Remember the 10/1 rule: Spending 10 minutes for 1 day each week is sufficient to identify and eliminate breeding sites around your yard and home!
Please report general mosquito issues to 311.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
West Nile virus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.
Mosquito bite prevention and personal safety
https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fwestnile%2Ffaq%2Frepellent.html
Mosquito control at home and source reduction
https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/vectorcontrol/integrated_mosquito_management.html
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