Health District to conduct second mosquito aerial larviciding

Larviciding will cover 3,000 acres from Stead to Washoe Valley

RENO, NV – The Washoe County Health District Vector-Borne Diseases Program will conduct its second seasonal helicopter larviciding application in the early morning hours of July 12 and 13, 2017. Subsequent applications are planned for some time in the first two weeks of August and September. The larviciding will cover the Lemmon Valley, Kiley Ranch, Red Hawk, Rosewood Lakes, Butler Ranch, South Meadows, Damonte Ranch, and Washoe Valley areas to prevent mosquito hatching over approximately 3,000 acres. 

Health officials report the applications will consist of MetaLarv, a biological larvicide that only targets mosquito larvae, with no affect to humans, fish, water fowl or other beneficial insects such as bees. 

Earlier this month the Washoe County Health District confirmed that a mosquito sample from the South Meadows area tested positive for the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV). This is the first positive test in Washoe County in 2017. While monthly larviciding is expected to reduce the number of mosquitos in the area, health officials remind people that they also should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitos. 

To avoid mosquito bites:

• Wear proper clothing and repellent if going outdoors when mosquitos are most active - in the early morning and evening;
• Use a repellant containing DEET, picaradin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 according to label instructions. Repellents keep the mosquitos from biting you. DEET can be used safely on infants and children 2 months of age and older. Applications can be put directly on the skin and also on clothing;
• Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep mosquitos out. Repair or replace screens with tears or holes;
• Clear standing water and any items from around homes that can be potential mosquito breeding-grounds, including pools, planters, children’s sandboxes, wagons or toys, pet bowls, and small puddles underneath and around faucets; and,
• Vaccinate your horses for WNV. 

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. The Vector-Borne Diseases Program also has mosquito fish available for ponds, troughs and other impoundments containing water which will prevent mosquito larvae from hatching into biting adult mosquitos.