MEDIA CONTACT:  Brian Todd, Metro Public Health Dept.
340-2153

 Metro Public Health Department’s Mosquito Control Program

Begins Trapping and Testing Mosquitoes May 2

Asks for Community’s Help to Control Mosquitoes this Spring and Summer

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 2, 2005 – The past few weeks of warm weather and rain are reminders that spring has arrived, along with mosquito larvae and biting mosquitoes that potentially carry diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV).

Today the Health Department’s Pest Management Staff will begin setting mosquito traps for testing at the Tennessee Department of Health’s lab.

Metro Public Health Department officials are asking the community to help with carrying out the department’s mosquito control effort.  The request includes encouraging community members to report mosquito problem areas by calling the department’s mosquito control hotline at 340-5668, or by sending an e-mail to WebMasters.health@nashville.gov.

“The Health Department has compiled maps of mosquito problem areas since 1998, however, we want to make absolutely sure our Pest Management staff has the most current picture,” said Brent Hager, Director of Environmental Health for the Metro Public Health Department.   “Input from the community will allow us to be better prepared to target specific problem areas this spring and summer.”

The Health Department, as in years past, is asking the community to take important steps to help reduce the mosquito population and potential WNV threat this summer. 

“The Health Department receives thousands of mosquito control requests each

season from the community who say they cannot enjoy outdoor activities because of biting mosquitoes,” Hager said. “We need everyone to take action to help control the mosquito population by reducing or eliminating mosquito breeding grounds now.”

West Nile virus, among other diseases, is transmitted to humans and other animals by mosquitoes that have bitten infected birds.  The Metro Public Health Department asks the community to take the following steps to reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding grounds:

·        Discard old tires or store inside where rainwater cannot collect inside of tires.

·        Empty standing water in buckets, plastic covers, toys, cemetery urns or any other container that may collect water.

·        Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week if not more often.

·        Cover outdoor trash and recycling cans with tight-fitting lids.

·        Drain or fill temporary pools with dirt.

·        Keep swimming pools treated and circulating.

·        Clean rain gutters and downspouts.  Leaves and other debris can create pools of water ideal for mosquito breeding.

·        Make sure all windows and doors have screens and are in good repair.

·        Store wheelbarrows, canoes, and boats upside down. 

·        Eliminate any standing water in puddles surrounding leaking faucets and air conditioners.

·        Animal watering troughs should be flushed at least twice a week to prevent them from becoming a breeding site.

·        Do not allow leaves or grass clippings to collect in drainage ditches or other low-lying areas.

Diseases such as West Nile Virus are spread to people from biting mosquitoes. The Health Department stresses taking the necessary measures to fully protect from mosquito bites, including:

• Limit time outdoors when mosquitoes are present.
• If you must be outdoors, wear a mosquito repellent that contains DEET.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants when spending time outdoors.

·        Use mosquito repellents when necessary and follow label directions and precautions closely.

·        Use head nets, long sleeves and long pants if you venture into areas with high mosquito populations, such as salt marshes.

·        Make sure window and door screens are "bug tight."

·        Replace your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights.

The Health Department continues to follow an integrated approach approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to control mosquitoes and protect the community from the threat of mosquito borne disease.   The approach is a combination of education, surveillance and control efforts, including:

·        Community education to help reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding areas.

·        Community education regarding protection against mosquito bites.

·        Monitoring standing water areas for mosquito larvae and applying larvacide when larvae are present.

·        Trapping and testing mosquitoes for WNV (to begin in May).

·        Localized adulticide spraying conducted to reduce (not eliminate) the mosquito population where mosquitoes pose a public health threat – either when WNV has been confirmed in mosquitoes or humans, or when high numbers of mosquitoes (35 female mosquitoes or more in a trap in one night) are captured.

·        Providing the community notification of spraying and precautions to take when spraying is conducted.

The Metro Public Health Department continues education efforts, step one of the integrated plan, about mosquito control and protection year round by reaching thousands of community members in a variety of ways, including information placed on Metro 3, on the Health Department’s Internet site, at community meetings, distribution of more than 12,000 “Fight the Bite” fliers, and media stories.  Information about mosquito control will also be sent in the June water bill.

Step two of the integrated approach started in March when the Health Department’s Pest Management Division began monitoring hundreds of standing water areas looking for mosquito larvae.   By early April, the Pest Management staff began applying larvacide to areas where mosquito larvae were present.   Monitoring standing water and applying larvacide when larvae are present continues throughout mosquito season.  Last year Pest Management staff applied 320 pounds of larvacide, more than any other mosquito season.

Step three of the mosquito control effort will occur May 2nd when the Health Department begins trapping mosquitoes and sending them to the Tennessee Department of Health’s lab to be tested for West Nile Virus.  Mosquito trapping and testing will allow the Health Department to better confirm areas with high population of mosquitoes and confirm locations where there is a threat of WNV. 

Spraying to reduce the mosquito population, especially where WNV is present, is the fourth step in the mosquito control effort.  The Health Department is not currently spraying to reduce the mosquito population.  There are no products or processes that will fully eliminate mosquitoes, however, surveillance efforts conducted last year in Nashville showed that spraying significantly reduced the flying mosquito population.  The Metro Public Health Department will continue to conduct surveillance efforts to gauge the effectiveness of the spray.

Last year the Health Department sprayed 13,928 properties over 12 evenings in late September and early October.  This translates to 0.399 mg per property Anvil 2+2.  Since only two-percent of the product contains the active ingredient, Sumithrin, this translates to 0.008 mg of Sumithrin per property per year.

 Step five of the process ensures that the community is given prior notification of spraying to reduce the mosquito population. Although the Health Department has not begun to spray, once spraying is required, the department will issue weekly updates on its website and to media about specific areas within the county to be sprayed.   The Health Department started a new Public Health e-mail service last summer.  The e-mail delivery service adds another communications link to notify community members of public health issues.  With the free e-mail delivery service in place, the Health Department has a complete notification system that is as comprehensive as any of the hundreds of cities that spray to kill mosquitoes.

Davidson County residents are encouraged to register by logging on to the Metro Public Health Department’s website (healthweb.nashville.gov) and following the directions after clicking on the “Subscribe for Public Health E-Mail Delivery” link.

For updated information about the Metro Public Health Department’s mosquito control program call 340-5668, or log onto the health department’s web site at healthweb.nashville.gov (please note, no www in our Internet address).