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For Immediate Release •
July 20, 2009
Staff Contact: Dan Wolford, Open Space and Trails Manager, 303-774-4691
View the most recent Press Releases
See more West Nile Virus Information
July 20, 2009 - Mosquito trap counts are rising in several Longmont locations to a level that triggers the need for localized adulticide spraying. Spraying is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, July 22, weather permitting, at these locations:
Within the last few weeks, the City's contractor, Colorado Mosquito Control (CMC), has detected rising numbers of mosquitoes in traps that have been placed around the City of Longmont. When the trap number reaches 100 or above and the risk of West Nile (WNV) is prevalent, the City's Mosquito Abatement Plan calls for localized spraying in those areas to help contain the spread of mosquitoes.
"The City is proactively limiting the numbers of mosquitoes through prevention efforts such as larvaciding, " Longmont Open Space and Trails Manager Dan Wolford said. "However, when the trap counts exceed our threshold and the risk of West Nile is significant, this type of localized spraying becomes necessary."
Larvaciding is a process that treats mosquito larvae with an organic compound that interrupts the respiratory process when mosquitoes are present in stagnant water. In addition to larvaciding, the City of Longmont uses an integrated approach to limit the risk of WNV to residents. The City spends most of its resources on monitoring and surveillance with the intent to prevent the adult mosquitoes from flying.
However, when the weather heats up and we continue to get those late afternoon rainshowers, it provides ideal conditions for breeding of culex mosquitoes.
This type of localized spraying is limited only to the immediate area around those trap sites. Typical hotspots for mosquito activity generally concentrate around water. These locations include Boulder County Fairgrounds, Jim Hamm Park, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Clover Basin, and St. Vrain Greenway.
"We adhere to a very specific protocol for combating mosquitoes," Wolford added. "There are no indications that a larger effort is necessary at this time."
The designated threshold for spraying is triggered when any one of eleven trap sites throughout the City encounters adult mosquitoes of 100 or greater and West Nile has been detected in the vicinity - this spraying is then site-specific. These trap sites are monitored and evaluated on a weekly basis. This information is shared between CMC, the Boulder County Public Health Department and the City.
When affected areas are targeted for spraying, the City alerts the public in a number of ways including:
The City has invested much time and resources in a continuing outreach and public education effort that encourages the public to take precautions against West Nile mosquitoes including:
The public is urged to follow the for D's of personal protection:
DEET: Use insect repellant that contains at least 10% DEET. If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours, consider the use of an insect repellant containing 10% to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl- methyl-meta-toluamide). Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for periods of approximately two hours.
Dress: Dress in long sleeves and long pants. If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, children and adults should wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks.
Dusk and Dawn: Reduce or eliminate outdoor activity between dusk and dawn.
Drain: Make sure to drain standing water around your home.
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