Onondaga County Health Commissioner, Indu Gupta MD, MPH, has been notified that a mosquito pool from a trap near the Cicero Swamp has tested positive for EEE. Dr. Gupta explained, “EEE is a rare disease that is caused by a virus spread by the bite of an infected mosquito therefore, it is extremely important that people use personal protection measures to help reduce their risk of being bitten by a mosquito.” Gupta also explained that the risk is highest for people who live in or visit woodland areas, and people who work outside or are involved in outdoor activities, because of greater exposure to potentially infected mosquitoes. In 2014, there were two human cases of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
Reducing exposure to mosquitoes is the best way to protect you from EEEV and other mosquito-borne viruses. Personal protection is recommended 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.
It is also important to reduce mosquito breeding grounds, thereby reducing the mosquito population:
- 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
The Onondaga County Health Department will be conducting aerial spraying of the Cicero Swamp and immediate surrounding areas Tuesday, July 7, between the hours of 7 and 10 pm weather permitting. Aerial spraying will help to reduce the number of mosquitoes in this area and therefore reduce the risk of disease. Residents in the spray areas will be notified through the media and through the emergency notification system. The product that will be used is Anvil 10 + 10 and will be applied at very low concentrations to control mosquitoes. Anvil 10 + 10 is a pesticide product that is used to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas. It contains sumithrin and piperonyl butoxide as active ingredients. Sumithrin is a man-made pyrethroid insecticide that can also be found in other pesticide products used indoors and on pets to control ticks and insects, such as fleas and ants.
To view a map of the spraying area, visit: /health/documents/SprayMapCicero.pdf
For more information call Lisa Letteney, Director of Environmental Health at 435-3155.
For more information about personal protection measures contact the Onondaga County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health at 435-1649.