West Nile Found In Mosquito Samples; County Spraying In Manalapan

MANALAPAN, NJ – After West Nile Virus, which has caused the death of one person in New Jersey, was found in mosquito samples in the area, the county will spray sections of Manalapan on Tuesday to control adult flying mosquitoes, Monmouth County health officials said.

The Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division will conduct the operation on Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., weather permitting, the county announced Monday.

The treatment area is east of Tennent Road extending to Route 9, and north from Symmes Drive/Caitlin Way extending to Glendale Drive. The county provided a map of the area, seen above.

There are no human cases of West Nile Virus in Monmouth County at this time, according to the division. But Mosquito Control is responding to multiple samples of mosquitoes collected from the same location - at the same time - testing positive for West Nile Virus, the division said.

The state has reported eight cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) as of last Friday. One New Jersey resident in Bergen County has died as a result.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, three cases were reported in Middlesex County; four in Bergen County, including the one death; and one in Camden County.

West Nile Virus is a disease that people can get through the bite of a mosquito that has fed on an infected bird. The disease is not directly transmitted from birds to humans.

August and September are when most WNV cases are reported in the state historically, the state health department said.

Read more here: 1 Dead, 7 Infected By West Nile Virus In New Jersey

In Monmouth County, the Mosquito Control Division will be spraying “Duet Dual-Action” which contains two pesticides called Prallethrin and Sumithrin, and a synergistic compound called piperonyl butoxide which increases the effectiveness of the pesticides, according to the county.

The Division will be using truck-mounted, ultra-low-volume application equipment that applies the pesticide at a fraction of an ounce per acre.

“We are asking residents to pay attention to notices about sprayings found in the local media outlets, as well as planning to limit outdoor activities during time of possible treatment. We also recommend moving your pets, their food and their water dishes indoors during application and to bring clothing and children’s toys indoors,” said Commissioner Susan M. Kiley, liaison to the Monmouth County Health Department and Mosquito Control.

Some ways to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illnesses include using EPA-registered repellents, wearing long sleeves and long pants and limiting outdoor activities at dusk, Kiley said.

“The Mosquito Control Division is committed to limiting flying adult mosquitoes and any illness they may carry,” said Kiley. “We are encouraging residents to help control the mosquito population by eliminating sources where they can breed, such as standing water.”

Residents can help “Fight the Bite” by using the Mosquito Control checklist to find and eliminate all the places where mosquitos breed around the home. Look for the checklist here.

The checklist and information about a courtesy inspection can be found at www.visitmonmouth.com. The Mosquito Control Advisory Board site has lots of information on various county services.

Pyrethroids have been recommended for Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV) mosquito control in New Jersey by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) current evaluation considers pyrethroid-containing products to be slightly toxic with minimal potential risk to people when used properly as part of an integrated mosquito control program.

To learn more about the Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, go to www.visitmonmouth.com/mosquito.