Health District will conduct third mosquito abatement larviciding

Larviciding to cover over 2,800 acres from Silver Lake to Washoe Valley to prevent West Nile Virus spread

RENO, NV – The Washoe County Health District Vector-Borne Diseases Program will conduct its third helicopter larviciding application of the 2017 mosquito season in the early morning hours of August 17 and 18. The larviciding will cover over 2,800 acres in the Silver Lake, Lemmon Valley, Kiley Ranch, Red Hawk, Rosewood Lakes, Butler Ranch, South Meadows, Damonte Ranch, and Washoe Valley areas to prevent mosquitos from hatching. Health officials report the applications will consist of Vectolex, a biological larvicide that only targets mosquito larvae, with no affect to humans, fish, water fowl or other beneficial insects such as bees. 

To date in 2017 the Washoe County Health District has identified over 60 positive mosquito collection tests for West Nile Virus in a geographical area that ranges from Gerlach to Washoe Lake. Two of those positive tests are human cases with other human cases confirmed this year in surrounding counties. In addition to larviciding, the Health District is fogging areas where known mosquito activity is present. However, health officials emphasize the importance of people taking precautions to keep mosquitos from biting. 

• Wear proper clothing and repellent if going outdoors when mosquitos are active, especially in the early morning and evening.
• Use repellants containing DEET, picaradin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 which are the best when used 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.
• 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 small puddles, pools, planters, children’s sandboxes, wagons or toys, underneath and around faucets, as well as plant saucers and pet bowls.
• Vaccinate your horses for WNV. 

The Washoe County Health District’s Communicable Disease Program investigates all reportable cases of diseases like WNV, and has identified an increase in meningitis, a possible reaction to WNV. So the Health District encourages healthcare providers to consider a WNV infection as a diagnosis among patients who are ill and have recently experienced mosquito bites. Symptoms may include fever, headache, body ache, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Those with a more severe infection may experience high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and death. In humans, the virus has an incubation period of three to ten days. 

Residents may report mosquito activity to the Health District at 785-4599. More information on WNV and the Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Program can be found at http://bit.ly/1SCOM2g.

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