New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, Rodent and Control Board to Conduct Adult and Larval Mosquito Abatement Tonight and Through the Weekend

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct early season adult and larval mosquito abatement beginning tonight and continuing through Sunday, May 8 in the following areas:

• The entire West Bank of Orleans Parish
• Holly Grove in the area bounded by Airline Highway
• South Carrollton Avenue
• South Claiborne Avenue
• Uptown area bounded by Claiborne Avenue, Earhart Boulevard/Calliope Street, the Mississippi River and the parish line

Treatments will be conducted by truck from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., weather permitting.

Mosquitoes lay eggs in any object or container that holds water and can develop from egg to adult in less than a week. We ask that residents inspect areas around the home and yard at least once per week. Empty water-filled containers such as kiddie pools, plant pot trays, plastic storage boxes or children's toys to reduce potential mosquito breeding sites. Remove outdoor trash and clutter including tires, buckets, tarps or any other items that can collect water. Make sure swimming pools and fountains are functional and circulating.

Mosquito abatement activities over the next few days are targeting the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, which is the local vector of West Nile virus (WNV). Our weekly trap counts have indicated elevated numbers of these mosquitoes in some areas. While most human WNV infections are asymptomatic, common symptoms can include headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. In rare cases, the virus can cause serious symptoms, especially for immunocompromised individuals or those over age 65.

NOMTRCB is urging people to protect themselves from mosquito bites by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn and using CDC-approved repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients.

For more information on West Nile virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.

SAFETY TIPS

Protect 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 condition to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside the home.
• Use CDC-approved repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
• When using repellent, always follow the recommendations on the product label.

Protect Your Home

• Eliminate standing water around your home where mosquitoes breed.
• Remove trash and clutter and dispose of discarded tires or containers that can hold water. Turn over kiddie pools, buckets, trash cans, children's toys, plant pot trays or anything else that can collect water.
• Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed such as bird baths or non-functional fountains. Scrub the sides of the containers to remove mosquito eggs that may 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 or unattended swimming pools by calling 311.

Report Tires

• Tires are easily filled with rainwater and collect leaves and litter, providing ideal breeding conditions for mosquito larvae. Removal of scrap tires will eliminate a prolific mosquito habitat.
• Residents can call 311 to request a bulk waste pickup of up to four tires. Tires should be stacked curbside next to City-issued trash containers.
• Tires in front of abandoned lots, unoccupied properties or businesses are ineligible for pick up and will not be collected. This issue is currently being addressed through City-coordinated, cooperative efforts towards treatment and removal.

For updates and more information, follow NOMTRCB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @nolamosquito.

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