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City, county and state spray for mosquitoes
By AUDREY M. MARKS
The hot and muggy weather has helped breed a problem for local and state governments, an onslaught of mosquitoes in Fort Bend County.
The state announced they will begin aerial spraying for mosquitoes Thursday in Fort Bend and other counties affected by Hurricane Ike.
The city of Sugar Land began making the rounds through the community spraying for mosquitoes shortly after the Hurricane hit the region.
Marc Grant, commissioner for the road and bridge department, said these are nothing more than pest mosquitoes.
While these mosquitoes do not carry disease, the County is continuing to trap and test to ensure there are no health issues.
"We haven't found any viruses in the ones we've trapped," Grant said. "They are just nuisances."
The county has embarked on its own elimination mission by spraying the areas from the road.
According to a press release from the Texas Department of State Health Services Wednesday, the targeted post-Hurricane Ike aerial spraying may begin as early as Thursday night.
As long as weather permits, the agency will be spraying from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
DSHS is spraying to help the area’s recovery effort and reduce the chance of spreading mosquito-borne illnesses such as St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile infection after heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Ike.
Specially equipped twin-turbine King Air planes may be flying as low as 300 feet above ground.
Dibrom, the insecticide being used by the state, has been passed by the federal Enivronmental Protection Agency and can be used for public health mosquito control programs without posing unreasonable risks to the general population.
Grant said residents should take precautions and shut windows. Additionally, pet owners should consider bringing in their animals for the night.
DSHS is warning beekeepers in the region to take protective measures to prevent damage to their hives.
The public should continue to eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding areas around their homes and be sure that door, porch and window screens are in good condition.
Residents are being encouraged by the state to use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 when outdoors.
The state announced they will begin aerial spraying for mosquitoes Thursday in Fort Bend and other counties affected by Hurricane Ike.
The city of Sugar Land began making the rounds through the community spraying for mosquitoes shortly after the Hurricane hit the region.
Marc Grant, commissioner for the road and bridge department, said these are nothing more than pest mosquitoes.
While these mosquitoes do not carry disease, the County is continuing to trap and test to ensure there are no health issues.
"We haven't found any viruses in the ones we've trapped," Grant said. "They are just nuisances."
The county has embarked on its own elimination mission by spraying the areas from the road.
According to a press release from the Texas Department of State Health Services Wednesday, the targeted post-Hurricane Ike aerial spraying may begin as early as Thursday night.
As long as weather permits, the agency will be spraying from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
DSHS is spraying to help the area’s recovery effort and reduce the chance of spreading mosquito-borne illnesses such as St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile infection after heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Ike.
Specially equipped twin-turbine King Air planes may be flying as low as 300 feet above ground.
Dibrom, the insecticide being used by the state, has been passed by the federal Enivronmental Protection Agency and can be used for public health mosquito control programs without posing unreasonable risks to the general population.
Grant said residents should take precautions and shut windows. Additionally, pet owners should consider bringing in their animals for the night.
DSHS is warning beekeepers in the region to take protective measures to prevent damage to their hives.
The public should continue to eliminate standing water and other mosquito breeding areas around their homes and be sure that door, porch and window screens are in good condition.
Residents are being encouraged by the state to use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 when outdoors.
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