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NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct adult mosquito abatement tonight in all of Algiers (The Point to Lower Coast) and the area surrounded by Carrolton Ave., Florida Ave., N. Broad St., St. Bernard Ave., N. Claiborne Ave., to I-10. Treatments will be conducted by truck or airplane from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., weather permitting. Routine surveillance has indicated an elevated number of mosquitoes in this area, triggering the treatments.
Treatments will target adult Culex quinquefasciatus, the “southern house mosquito”, a West Nile virus (WNV) vector. No human WNV cases have been reported in Orleans Parish this year. WNV cycles between wild birds and mosquitoes and can be transmitted to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. While the majority of WNV virus infections are asymptomatic, the virus can cause serious symptoms, especially for individuals that are immunocompromised or above 65 years old.
NOMTRCB urges residents of New Orleans to protect themselves from biting mosquitoes and West Nile virus by avoiding mosquito bites. These actions include limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, using EPA-approved insect repellents, reducing the number of mosquitoes around the home, and mosquito-proofing your home by maintaining screens on windows and doors. We are also urging people to empty water-filled containers around the home and yard to reduce potential mosquito breeding sites.
For additional information regarding West Nile virus, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.
SAFETY TIPS
Protecting Yourself
- Reduce mosquito exposure by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
- Use air-conditioning and make sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants while outside.
- 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.
Protecting Your Home
- Eliminate standing water around your home, where mosquitoes breed.
- Remove trash and clutter, dispose of discarded tires and containers that can hold water. Turn over wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children's toys or anything that could collect water.
- Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed, such as pet dishes or bird baths. Scrub the side of the containers each week to remove any eggs that 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.
- Report illegal dumping, water leaks and unattended swimming pools by calling 311.
- Call 311 report mosquito problems.
Tires are easily filled with rain water and collect leaves and litter which provides ideal breeding sites for mosquito larvae. Eliminating scrap tire dumps will eliminate a prolific mosquito habitat.
- Residents can place up to four tires weekly, stacked curbside next to their city issued trash containers, on the second collection day of the week if they live outside the French Quarter/DDD. Residences inside of the French Quarter/DDD, can place tires curbside on Wednesdays. Call 311 to arrange for pick up.
- Tires in front of abandoned lots, unoccupied properties or businesses are ineligible for pick up and will not be collected.
Residents can report mosquito issues to 311.
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