|
DEP REMINDS NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS TO BE VIGILANT DURING MOSQUITO
SEASON
Urges Practical Steps to Reduce Mosquito Population and
Risk of West Nile Virus
(04/43) TRENTON- The New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) urged
residents today to be mindful of the coming mosquito season
and to take common sense precautions to reduce the risk
of contracting mosquito-borne viruses, such as West Nile
and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
"Right now is the time to take preemptive
steps to address the mosquito larvae population," said
DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "People need
to eliminate pools of standing water that serve as mosquito
breeding grounds and can form in places such as gutters,
tarps covering pools or boats, trash cans, and old tires."
In addition, Campbell reminded members
of the public to take common sense steps to avoid being
bitten by mosquitoes. Some basic steps include wearing long-sleeve
shirts and pants when outdoors, particularly at dusk and
dawn; making sure screens on windows and doors are in good
repair; and applying appropriate insect repellant (following
the label instructions carefully, especially when applying
to children) when going outdoors.
Since March, mosquito larvae have been
actively developing in the aquatic stage of their life cycle.
Both state and county government mosquito control agencies
are surveying for and applying control strategies at this
time in order to prevent the emergence of mosquitoes to
the flying adult stage. Control methods include the stocking
of mosquito-eating fish that consume the larvae and the
application of targeted, low-impact insecticides.
Once again, DEP this year will cooperate
with the New Jersey Departments of Health and Senior Services
and Agriculture, as well as Rutgers University and the 21
County Mosquito Control Agencies, to control for mosquitoes
that may be implicated in the transmission of West Nile
Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Interested members
of the public can find out from their county agency the
schedules for any spraying that is performed as a last resort
to control for adult, flying mosquitoes.
To learn more about mosquito control, visit
the DEP website at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/mosquito/
|
