Mosquito Control Practices Planned In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — In an effort to prevent illnesses such as West Nile virus carried by mosquitoes, the Stratford Health Department is teaming up with the town’s Public Works Department to treat the town’s 5,283 catch basins with a non-toxic larvicide, according to officials.

“With mosquito season here, we are treating all of our catch basins,” said Kelly Kerrigan, the town’s Environmental Conservation Superintendent.

Kerrigan advises that residents can do their part by reducing standing water on their property to limit areas where mosquitoes can breed. Residents can also purchase larvicide brickettes or “dunks” at local hardware stores or places like Home Depot to treat areas on their property where water may pool.

“We advocate three basic things you can do to protect yourself and your family against mosquitos: Cover up. Repel. And Cleanup,” Stratford Health Director Andrea Boissevain said.

Wear protective clothing and minimize your time outside when mosquitoes are biting at dusk and dawn. Use insect repellent, and remove standing water so they don’t breed in the first place, according to Boissevain.

Below are some additional tips from the Stratford Health Department on how to avoid mosquito bites and decrease mosquito activity around your home:

WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
• Minimizing time spent outdoors around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Be sure door and windows screens are tight fighting and in good repair.
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.

USE INSECT REPELLENT

• Considering using mosquito repellent, as directed, when outdoors.
• Repellents made with 20-30% of the active ingredient DEET are very effective when used properly; however, DO NOT USE ON CHILDREN UNDER 2 years of age.

REMOVE STANDING WATER

• Rid your property of extra standing water. Artificial containers such as barrels and birdbaths are frequently used by mosquitoes for laying eggs.
• Cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools that are not being used, including pool covers.
• Cleaning clogged gutters.
• Drilling holes in bottom of recycling containers.
• Fixing holes in your screens.
• For commercial properties with flat roofs, check for standing water to reduce mosquito-breeding sites.

The state started its mosquitoes collecting and testing program June 1. They test for the presence of WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, through October. Stratford hosts two such state agricultural mosquito trapping sites at Beacon Point and Beaver Dam Road. As of the week of June 19, none of the mosquitoes tested carried West Nile or Eastern Equine Encephalitis viruses. The Health Department will continue to monitor the weekly data.

For more information on mosquito control, visit the Stratford Health Department’s website here.