Mosquito Season Underway in Parsippany

The Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health and Senior Services are urging State residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito-borne West Nile virus by taking some simple steps to reduce populations of the insect on their own properties. 

In typical years, says the state Department of Environmental Protection, late summer and early fall is the time we are most at risk from mosquitoes. Thanks to Hurricane Irene, this year the risk is even greater in flood-hit towns like Parsippany. In response, the DEP urges residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito-borne West Nile virus.
The government has taken quite a few steps of its own in the battle against mosquitoes.

"We did indeed have a bumper crop of mosquitoes throughout Morris County, including Parsippany, after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee," said Morris County Mosquito Extermination Commission Superintendent Kristian J. McMorland. "We were very concerned with the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany and did perform numerous control operations in that area.  Rainbow Lakes had above average numbers of mosquitoes that required our attention too." 

McMorland said the initial county operation focused on treating for larval mosquitoes, and then on controlling adult populations. 

"Surveillance continues for West Nile Virus and will continue for another two weeks or so.  We also increased our public awareness campaigns with our partners at local health departments," she said. "Our website  has a bunch of greatinformation for residents plus it allows them to see where we are going to be treating for adult mosquitoes."

She added that the public must be aware of the potential for contracting West Nile virus from mosquito bites. The insects can be active until late October, and at this time of the year, they tend to be active throughout the entire day. 

The DEP warns that it is extremely important that residents follow personal protective measures, including using insect repellent when outdoors, limiting time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active and wearing protective clothing during these hours.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services meanwhile reports four human cases of West Nile virus so far this year, with no fatalities. They were in Mercer, Middlesex, Morris and Ocean counties. The Morris County exposure to West Nile virus occurred outside of New Jersey. DHSS also reported that 25 birds have died from confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Somerset and Warren counties.

Last year, there were 30 human case of West Nile virus in New Jersey, including two deaths.

The DEP offers the following tips on how to limit mosquitoes on your property:

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have accumulated on your property. 
• Pay special attention to discarded tires that may have accumulated. The used tire has become the most important domestic mosquito producer in this country. 
•  Drill holes in the bottom and elevate recycling containers that are left out of doors.
• Clean clogged roof gutters on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce millions of mosquitoes each season. 
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a mosquito producer if it is not used on a regular basis. 
• Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in bird baths.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. A swimming pool that is left untended can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Be aware mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers. 
• Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property. Mosquitoes will develop in any puddle that lasts more than four days.
• Maintain mechanical barriers, such as window and door screens, to prevent mosquitoes from entering buildings. Barriers over rain barrels or cistern and septic pipes will deny female mosquitoes the opportunity to lay eggs on water. 

If you have problems controlling mosquitoes, contact your county mosquito control agency by calling 888-666-5968. For more information on dealing with mosquitoes, visit the DEP mosquito-related website and the informational page provided by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.