June 8, 2022 | From City of New Orleans
New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, and Rodent Control Board to Conduct Adult Mosquito Abatement Tonight
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct adult mosquito abatement tonight, June 8, in Mid-City and portions of the 7th Ward in the area bounded by I-610, I-10, Franklin Avenue, North Claiborne Avenue and the Pontchartrain Expressway. Treatments will also take place in Algiers in the area bounded by Patterson Road, the Intracoastal Canal and the Donner Canal. Treatments will be conducted by truck from 8 p.m. to midnight, weather permitting.
Mosquito abatement activities this week are targeting the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, which is the local vector of West Nile virus (WNV). The City's weekly trap counts indicate elevated numbers of these mosquitoes in some areas. While most human WNV infections are asymptomatic, common symptoms can include headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. In rare cases, the virus can cause serious symptoms, especially for immunocompromised individuals or those over age 65.
Mosquitoes lay eggs in flood water, small bodies of water and any pool or container that holds water after rain. When the weather is warm, they can develop from eggs to adults in less than a week. NOMTRCB asks that residents inspect areas around the home and yard at least once per week and empty water-filled containers such as kiddie pools, water tables, plant pots or trays or plastic storage boxes to reduce potential mosquito breeding sites.
Outdoor trash and clutter including tires, buckets, tarps or any other items that can collect water should also be tipped over or removed. Make sure swimming pools and fountains are functional and circulating.
For more information on WNV, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.
SAFETY TIPS
Protect Yourself
- Reduce mosquito exposure by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
- Use air conditioning or fans if possible, and make sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside the home.
- Use CDC-approved repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
- When using repellent, always follow the recommendations on the product label.
Protect Your Home
- Eliminate standing water around your home where mosquitoes breed.
- Remove trash and clutter and dispose of discarded tires or containers that can hold water. Turn over kiddie pools, buckets, trash cans, children's toys, plant pot trays, or anything else that can collect water.
- Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed such as bird baths or non-functional fountains. Scrub the sides of the containers to remove mosquito eggs that may have been deposited.
- Rain barrels and other water collection devices must be screened and collected water should be used within one week.
- Aerate ornamental pools, fountains and sugar kettles, or stock them with fish or mosquito dunks.
- Report illegal dumping, water leaks, or unattended swimming pools by calling 311 or submitting a service request online at https://nola311.org/.
Report Tires
- Tires are easily filled with rainwater and collect leaves and litter, providing ideal breeding conditions for mosquito larvae. Removal of scrap tires will eliminate a prolific mosquito habitat.
- Residents can call 311 to request a bulk waste pickup of up to four tires. Tires should be stacked curbside next to City-issued trash containers.
- Tires in front of abandoned lots, unoccupied properties or businesses are ineligible for pick up and will not be collected. This issue is currently being addressed through City-coordinated, cooperative efforts towards treatment and removal of illegally dumped tires.
For more information and updates, follow NOMTRCB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @nolamosquito.
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