Health District to conduct mosquito abatement

Larviciding will cover 3,100 acres throughout southern Washoe County

RENO, NV – The Washoe County Health District Vector-Borne Diseases Program will conduct the first seasonal helicopter larviciding application beginning in the early morning hours of June 14, 2017, with subsequent applications planned for July, August and September. The larviciding will cover approximately 3,100 acres in Washoe County from the North Valleys area including Spanish Springs to Washoe Lake.

Health officials report the applications will consist of Vectolex granules, a biological larvicide that naturally occurs in the environment. This product is target specific, affecting mosquito larvae with no affects to humans, fish, water fowl or other non-target organism's such as bees. Future applications coincide with the effectiveness of the product in order to interrupt the lifecycle of mosquitos at the larvae stage, killing larvae before they become flying, biting, disease-transmitting adult mosquitos.

The Health District has started disease surveillance mosquito trapping targeting species of mosquitos that transmit diseases, including trapping methods for detection of mosquitos capable of transmitting the Zika virus, should they appear in the Truckee Meadows area.

Health officials remind people that they should take precautionary measures and steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitos. During the spring and summer months people should:

• Wear long sleeves and long pants in mosquito prone areas
• Use mosquito repellent such as Deet, oil of lemon eucalyptus, Picaridin, IR3535, or other natural products – a layer directly on skin, and one on clothing works well
• Keep window and door screens in good repair to prevent entry for mosquitos into homes
• Vaccinate horses for Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV)
• Clear areas around living spaces of any free-standing water and containers that can hold even small amounts of water that may become a mosquito breeding-ground

The Vector Borne Diseases Program has mosquito fish available for ponds, troughs and other water containers which will feed on mosquito larvae and prevent them from hatching into biting adult mosquitos.

If you are experiencing biting mosquitos call the Vector-Borne Diseases Program at 785-4599, and staff will investigate the source of these adult mosquitos.

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About Washoe County Health District: The Washoe County District Board of Health, through the Washoe County Health District, has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Washoe County, Nevada. Its mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Washoe County through health promotion, disease prevention, public health emergency preparedness, and environmental services. The Board of Health is composed of seven members, including two representatives each from Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, and a physician licensed to practice medicine in Nevada.