Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Cynthia B. Morrow, MD, MPH announced today that five additional pools of Culiseta melanura mosquitoes, primarily a bird biting species, collected on August 31, 2010 tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). These pools were from three traps located in the Town of Cicero. Two pools were from the Island Road trap, two from the Rt. 298 trap, and one pool was from the Taft Road trap.  Results were received from the New York State Health Department late this morning.  The finding of additional EEE in mosquitoes was not unexpected and additional positive pools may be found.

Due to lower temperatures forecasted for this evening during the planned spray period, aerial spraying of the Cicero Swamp and immediate surrounding areas scheduled for this evening has been postponed. Spraying is now scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 11 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. weather permitting.

Dr. Morrow explained, “It is imperative that residents use the following personal protection and prevention measures especially because we know that EEE is in our environment”:

Personal protection is advised during outdoor activities. Personal protection measures include:

§         Wearing shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outside for a long period of time.

§         Avoiding outside activity during prime mosquito feeding times (dawn and dusk)

§         Applying a repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, and IR3535 is recommended to prevent mosquito bites (follow manufacturers instructions on proper use).

 Preventive measures:

§         Throw away outdoor tin cans, plastic containers, or similar outdoor items that collect water

§         Remove tires from your property

§         Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors

§         Clean clogged rain gutters

§         Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use

§         Change water in bird baths every four days

§         Clear vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds

§         Clean chlorinated swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs

§         Drain water from pool covers

§         Use landscaping to eliminate low spots where standing water accumulates

Stay tuned to your local media about aerial spraying updates. For more information about Eastern Equine Encephalitis and mosquito borne illness contact call the Onondaga County Health Department at 435-1649 or visit www.ongov.net/health and click on mosquito update.