NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct adult or larval mosquito abatement tonight in the following areas:
- The Lower Ninth Ward in the area bounded by Jourdan Avenue, Florida Avenue, Delery Street and the Mississippi River
- New Orleans East in the area bounded by Martin Drive, Morrison Road, I-510 and I-10
- Lakeview in the area bounded by Lakeshore Drive, Wisner Avenue, Filmore Avenue and West End Boulevard
- Gentilly/Desire in the area bounded by the Inner Harbor Canal, Florida Avenue, I-10, Peoples Avenue and Lakeshore Drive
Treatments will be carried out by truck from 20:00 to 12:00, weather permitting.
Mosquito abatement activities this week target container breeding and swamp mosquitoes, which are present in large numbers in some areas, as well as Culex quinquefasciatus, the mosquito that is the primary local vector of West Nile virus (WNV). While most human WNV infections are asymptomatic, common mild symptoms may include headache, body aches, fever, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. In rare cases, severe diseases affecting the central nervous system may occur. People over 60 or those with certain medical conditions are at higher risk for serious illness.
Reducing the risk of mosquito bites and mosquito-borne virus transmission is a community effort. The NOMTRCB requires residents to remain vigilant and inspect areas around the home and yard at least once a week to reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Take steps to reduce the risk of mosquito bites by following the following home and personal safety tips. To report mosquito-related issues, please contact NOMTRCB through one of the following methods:
For more information on WNV, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.
SAFETY ADVICE
Protect yourself
- Reduce exposure to mosquitoes by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
- Use air conditioning or fans if possible and make sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.
- Use CDC-approved repellents that contain EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or lemon-eucalyptus oil.
- 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 dumping water that has collected in containers at least weekly.
- Make sure pools and fountains are functional and circulating.
- Remove trash and clutter and return any objects that can hold water, such as kiddie pools, buckets, empty trash cans, children’s toys, or planter trays.
- Change the water weekly in non-removable containers such as birdbaths, pet water bowls or non-functioning fountains. Clean the sides of containers to remove any mosquito eggs that may have been deposited.
- Rain barrels and other water collection equipment must be checked and the collected water must be used within a week.
- Aerate decorative pools, fountains and sugar vats, or fill them with fish or mosquito nets.
For more pest management tips, abatement notices and general information, follow NOMTRCB on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter @nolamosquito.
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