Onondaga County Interim Commissioner of Health, Michelle Mignano, announced that the New York State Department of Health’s laboratory has reported finding evidence of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a mosquito pool. The mosquito pool was collected on July 10, 2014 at our Taft Road trap site located at East Taft Road (near the Totman Road intersection).

Due to this finding and the recent high mosquito count, aerial spraying of the Cicero Swamp and immediate surrounding areas will be done on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., weather permitting. Residents in the spray areas will be notified through the media and through the emergency notification system. The designated spray areas are  generally bounded on the north by Route 31, on the west by Northern Boulevard, on the south by Taft Road and on the east by the county line (Chittenango Creek).  Roads included in this area are:  all or parts of Route 298, Bull Street, Eastwood Road, Island Road, Cicero Center Road, Fergerson Road, Ferstler Road and Oxbow Road.  The pesticide that will be used for aerial spraying is Kontrol. This pesticide is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation for this use. A copy of the pesticide label can be found on the Onondaga County website at /health/documents/MasterLineKontrol30-30label.pdf.

During spraying, it is recommended that residents:

• Stay indoors and keep windows closed for one hour after your area has been sprayed
• Keep pets indoors if possible
• Cover outdoor gardens and  rinse vegetables before eating
• Set your window air conditioners to circulate indoor air.  It is safe to use your central air conditioning
• Remove children’s toys that are outdoors, any outdoor furniture, and clothes from outdoor clotheslines
• If toys or clothes have been left outdoors, wash each thoroughly with soap and water before using and launder clothes before wearing
• If you are driving during the spraying, close your car windows and vents

It is also important that the public continue to take measures to minimize being bitten by mosquitoes and to keep your yard free from standing water to reduce the mosquito population near your home. Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn. 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. Applying a mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or IR3535 is also recommended to prevent mosquito bites.  Do not put the repellent directly onto children. Put it on your hands and apply it to your child. Do not put insect repellent on your face. Wash skin and clothing after returning indoors. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for application.

The following are ways of helping to reduce mosquito breeding grounds:

• Throw away outdoor containers, ceramic pots or containers that hold water
• Remove all tires from your property
• Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors
• Clean clogged rain gutters and make sure they continue to work properly
• Turn over wheelbarrows and wading pools when not in use
• Change water in bird baths at least 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

To view a map of the aerial spraying area visit: /health/documents/county_environmental_health_cicero_swamp_spraying_911_notification_map.pdf.
To view 2014 Vector Control Public Notice for Aerial Pesticide Application of the Cicero Swamp visit /health/PublicNotice.html. For more information about personal protection measures contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 435-1649.