City of New Orleans, LA

10/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/02/2024 10:43

New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board to Conduct Adult Mosquito Abatement Tonight by Truck

October 2, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board to Conduct Adult Mosquito Abatement Tonight by Truck

NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct adult mosquito abatement tonight. Adulticide applications this evening will target adult populations of mosquitoes. Treatments will be conducted by truck from 7:15 p.m. to 12a.m., weather permitting, in the following areas:

  • The Garden District and Irish Channel bounded by St Charles Avenue, Tchoupitoulas Street, Napoleon Avenue, and the Pontchartrain Expressway
  • Gert Town bounded by I-10, Carrollton Avenue, S Claiborne Avenue, Broadway Street, Fontainebleau Drive, and S Broad Street
  • Mid-City and Bayou St. John bounded by Esplanade Avenue, Carrollton Ave, I-10, Canal Street, and N Galvez Street
  • Tremé and Lafitte bounded by Esplanade Avenue, Canal Street, N Galvez Street, and I-10
  • Fairgrounds and Seventh Ward bounded by I-610, Esplanade Avenue, Moss Street, and St Anthony Street
  • Seventh Ward and St. Roch bounded by I-610, St Anthony Street, N Claiborne Avenue, Franklin Avenue, Florida Avenue, and I-10

Rainfall can significantly increase mosquito populations by creating habitats for several species including floodwater and container-breeding species. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in nearly anything that can hold water, such as tires, buckets, wheelbarrows, clogged gutters, unkept swimming pools, tarps (and other plastics), and kiddie pools. Mosquitoes can develop from eggs to adult mosquitoes in approximately five to seven days. We are asking residents to remain vigilant and to tip over or toss out any items that hold water to prevent mosquito development. For large non-circulating vessels or ponds, residents can contact NOMTRCB to receive free mosquito fish, please call ahead to schedule. Ensure swimming pools and fountains are operational and circulating water. Rain barrels and other water collection devices must be screened and free of debris. Collected water should be used within a week. We are asking all citizens to take 10 minutes a week when taking out their garbage to inspect and remove any containers holding water on their property.

West Nile and other mosquito-borne viruses are more prevalent in the summer and early fall. West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in a mosquito pool in Orleans Parish this year, and positive mosquito pools have been reported in other areas of the state. WNV cycles between wild birds and mosquitoes and can be transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito. Positive mosquito samples from surveillance traps indicate virus activity in mosquitoes and wild birds. While most human West Nile infections are asymptomatic, common symptoms include headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. In rare cases, severe illness can occur. Individuals over age 60, immunocompromised populations, and those with certain medical conditions are at greater risk of severe illness. NOMTRCB is continuing to deploy weekly adult traps throughout the parish to monitor adult population densities and test for mosquito-borne diseases. Results from our adult traps are instrumental in making additional abatement decisions.

Protect Yourself

  • Reduce mosquito exposure by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn
  • Use air conditioning or sit in the air stream of a fan outdoors when possible
  • Make sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside the home
  • Use 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 where mosquitoes breed around your home and yard by tipping over all outdoor containers at least weekly
  • Make sure swimming pools and fountains are functional and circulating
  • Remove trash and clutter and turn over any object that can hold water, such as kiddie pools, buckets, empty trash cans, children's toys, or plant pot trays
  • Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed such as bird baths, pet water bowls, 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 or mosquito dunks
  • Store outdoor toys, trash cans, empty plant vases, and other water-holding containers upside down when not in use

Report Mosquito Issues

Please report mosquito-related issues using one of the following methods:

Resources for Residents

For more information on West Nile virus, visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html

For a map of arbovirus detection in mosquito populations in Louisiana, visit the VectorSurv website: https://maps.vectorsurv.org/arbo

For information on arboviral diseases in the US, visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/php/arbonet/index.html

For information on current WNV activity throughout the United States, visit CDC's ArboNET: https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/current-year-data.html

For information on guidelines followed by NOMTRCB for integrated pest management, visit the Louisiana Mosquito Control Association (LMCA) website:

https://lmca.us/

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For pest management tips, abatement announcements, spray maps, and general information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @nolamosquito.