City of Des Moines, IA

26/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 27/07/2024 03:15

Clarke to Conduct Communitywide Mosquito Treatment due to West Nile Virus-Positive Mosquito Detection

Press Release

Des Moines, Iowa- Friday, July 26, 2024 - The City of Des Moines has scheduled a communitywide adult mosquito control treatment beginning after dusk on the evening of Sunday, July 28th, weather permitting. Treatments will continue over several nights to cover the entire community, and applications in residential areas will generally begin after 8:00 p.m.

The application has been scheduled due to the detection of West Nile Virus-positive mosquitoes in local surveillance traps. While there continues to be no known positive cases of the West Nile Virus in humans or pets in the City of Des Moines, the treatment will help reduce the local adult mosquito populations that may transmit the virus.

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 do recommend taking personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites and their related health issues. These protective measures include wearing CDC-recommended repellents (containing the active ingredients of DEET, picaridin, IR-3535 and/or oil of lemon eucalyptus), wearing long sleeves/long pants when outdoors, and avoiding being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquito populations are most active.

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.