County braces for mosquito season

So far, there’s no evidence of West Nile virus, official says

After last summer’s outbreak of the West Nile virus throughout New York and New Jersey, officials and experts are taking the necessary precautions in preventing any widespread problem.

"We are asking home and property owners to help us combat mosquitoes by removing standing water in paint cans, rubber tires, birdbaths, gutters, covers of above-ground swimming pools and abandoned swimming pools with very little water," Martin Chomsky, superintendent of the Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Commission (MEC), said Monday. "These places are breeding grounds that can be eliminated."

Currently, there is no evidence of the West Nile virus in the county despite reports that infected mosquitoes have been found recently in Queens, N.Y. Last fall the virus was found in several dead crows in Monmouth County.

The MEC will be undertaking several protective measures including larval collections, establishing chicken flocks for testing, participating in the Rutgers-sponsored virus surveillance center, and if necessary using adulticiding on infested areas. Adulticide is the spraying of flying adult mosquitoes by ground and air. The MEC will also be expanding the biological control by using mosquito fish which feed on the larvae.

The chicken flocks were set up for testing last year in four places in Monmouth County. This year the MEC would like five test sites, but so far the state will only pay for one per county.

"We’ll pay for additional flocks, but we really need about five to be effective," added Chomsky.

The common mosquitoes are the saltmarsh (Aedes sollicitans) and the floodwater (Aedes vexans) varieties which are believed to carry the virus. The infected mosquitoes are of the household variety which breed in standing water and storm sewer pipes.

Although the West Nile virus, which can cause encephalitis, can be deadly to some people, the majority of the population does not suffer any symptoms from the virus when infected. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

County and local officials are working together to prevent any problems. The MEC will be holding a meeting with public works representatives of various municipalities to advise on the cleanup of storm basins, another source of breeding during the summer months. No date has been scheduled as of yet. Also, any person who finds a dead bird should contact their local health department.

"We’re ready for any eventuality, but right now there is no evidence of any infected mosquitoes," said Chomsky.