City Takes Mores Steps to Manage West Nile Virus through Mosquito Control

Press Release

Des Moines, Iowa- Friday, August 16, 2024 - Another community-wide adult mosquito control treatment has been scheduled beginning after dusk on the evening of Sunday, August 18, 2024. This proactive measure is scheduled due to the detection of West Nile Virus-positive mosquitoes in local surveillance traps throughout the city. There continue to be no known positive cases of the West Nile Virus in humans or pets in the City of Des Moines.

Clarke Mosquito Control and Management will apply the treatments that will continue over several nights to cover the entire community, and applications in residential areas will generally begin after 8:00 pm. The additional treatment will continue to help reduce the local adult mosquito populations that may transmit the virus to people and pets, helping preserve Des Moines residents' health and comfort.

Residents are encouraged to regularly inspect their properties and eliminate standing water sources where mosquitoes may breed, such as in bird baths, flowerpots, wading pools, kid's toys and other receptacles. Eliminating standing water and mosquito breeding sites every week is important for the continued suppression of local mosquito populations.

Public health officials recommend taking personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites and related health issues. These protective measures include wearing CDC-recommended repellents, wearing long sleeves/long pants when outdoors, and avoiding being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquito populations are most active.

Since Clarke conducted the first spray mission on May 16, the company has sprayed all neighborhoods in the city at least six times with the most recent mission on July 31. To date, a total of 488 sites with standing water have been inspected and hand treated to control mosquito larva.

Residents can report nuisance mosquito levels or sign up for advance notifications of scheduled adult control treatments through Clarke's Customer Portal at https://www.clarke.com/customer-portal/ or by calling 800-942-2555.

The City of Des Moines allows residents to opt out of adult mosquito control treatments. Residents can request their private, single-family residential property be omitted from adult mosquito control treatments by submitting a Des Moines Mosquito Control Treatment Opt Out Form or calling 1-800-942-2555. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to scheduled treatment and will be valid throughout the 2024 season.

Contact
Clarke Mosquito Control and Management
[email protected]

Debbie McClung
Chief Communications Officer, City Manager's Office
(515) 979-7831
[email protected]

About the City of Des Moines
The City of Des Moines is Iowa's capital city and our 17 departments serve more than 214,000 residents and 48 neighborhood associations. Des Moines is a leader in sustainability and provides its residents with vibrant neighborhoods, an alive and active downtown, and abundant leisure opportunities.

Des Moines continuously improves neighborhoods, public safety and quality of life by offering exceptional city services and reliable infrastructure while fostering an involved and compassionate community for all who visit and live in Des Moines. Visit DSM.city, Facebook and Twitter for more information.

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