Columbus Public Health begins Summer Mosquito Control Efforts

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[NCC] Columbus Public Health begins Summer Mosquito Control Efforts

Friday, June 26, 2009 6:39 AM

From: "Rodriguez, Jose R." JRRodriguez@columbus.gov

COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH - Press Release   FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2009
Contact:      Jose Rodriguez    (614) 645-6928  jrrodriguez@columbus.gov  

Columbus Public Health begins Summer Mosquito Control Efforts

Minimizing Mosquito Growth helps Prevent and Control West Nile Virus and other Diseases   Columbus Public Health is beginning its summer efforts to minimize mosquito-borne diseases in our city's neighborhoods. Spraying begins in nearly 60 Columbus area parks on June 29-30 in preparation for July 4^th activities.

Future spraying locations will be determined based on disease presence, mosquito trap results, the number and type of mosquitoes trapped and the number of infected mosquitoes.  Weekly updates and fogging locations will be available on the Columbus Public Health Web site and Facebook page.   

While not all mosquitoes carry WNV, an infected mosquito can cause illness and make some people sick with encephalitis-causing inflammation of the brain and nervous system.  Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will never develop symptoms or become sick, but people 50 or older and those with existing health problems are at greatest risk of complications.  

"Mosquitoes are an unwelcome - yet inevitable - part of summer, and some of them may carry disease," says Dr. Teresa Long, Columbus Public Health Commissioner.  "But we can protect ourselves and minimize the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses by using insect repellant, wearing protective clothing at dawn or dusk, repairing window screens, and getting rid of standing water such as bird baths and baby pools where mosquitoes lay eggs."  

Dr. Long notes residents are important partners in monitoring and preventing WNV.  Residents are encouraged to eliminate standing water on their property, report to us any areas of standing water in their neighborhood and to report dead adult crows or blue jays which could be a sign that WNV is circulating between birds and mosquitoes in the area.  After double bagging birds and throwing them away, residents are asked to call 311 or 645-3111 and report their complete address so health officials can track dead bird trends.  

For weekly spraying maps and schedules, visit the Columbus Public Health Web site at www.publichealth.columbus.gov, or our Facebook page.

Additional information on West Nile Virus is also available at www.cdc.gov and www.epa.gov.

 Jose R. Rodriguez
Director of Communications
Columbus Public Health
240 Parsons Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-645-6928 Cell - 614-604-5025