OSWEGO COUNTY – The week of June 25 – July 1 has been declared the 20th annual “National Mosquito Control Awareness Week” by the American Mosquito Control Association, an organization dedicated to preserving the public’s health and well-being through safe, environmentally sound mosquito control programs since 1935.
The goal of the “mosquito week” is to educate the public about the significance of mosquitoes’ potential impacts on people’s daily lives and the important service provided by mosquito control workers throughout the United States and worldwide.
“For Oswego County, where we have had a mosquito program to fight EEE for more than 30 years, this year’s celebration of ‘National Mosquito Control Awareness Week’ has two special meanings,” said Jiancheng Huang, Public Health Director of the Oswego County Health Department.
“First, the Wilcox family, who has led community grassroots efforts in mosquito awareness over the past several years under the not-for-profit corporation name, The MSGW Foundation, will now be known as The Wilcox Mosquito Foundation,” said Huang. “The foundation will continue with not-for-profit corporate status.”
Donna Wilcox will continue to lead the organization and its mission will remain the same – to conduct public awareness programs regarding mosquito impacts while continuing to lobby for a human vaccine for mosquito-borne illnesses and diseases.
The organization will continue to advocate for a human vaccine for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, for which there is currently no proven course of treatment and no vaccine available.
“Secondly,” said Huang, “the high water level of Lake Ontario has affected many homes, campgrounds and communities along the lakeshore this spring. The flooding has raised residents’ and agencies’ awareness of the need to reduce mosquito populations and prevent mosquito bites.”
“Summer is the time to enjoy outdoor activities with family and friends,” said Wilcox. “Summer is also the time for pesky, irritating mosquitoes as well. One mosquito bite may only leave an itchy, red and annoying mark, but it may also cause serious diseases or even death. Everyone should practice personal protective measures and take care of their family members.”
Individual personal prevention measures are the most efficient way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. The following precautions should be taken:
– Use insect repellent properly. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus are the most effective and should be used according to package instructions.
– Whenever possible, limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
– As weather permits, wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks.
– Repair or replace torn window and door screens.
– Certain other EPA-approved products containing permethrin can be used on clothing, shoes, bed netting and camping gear to repel and kill mosquitoes and some other pests such as ticks. Read the product label and use according to package instructions.
Wilcox and Huang noted that mosquitoes need standing water to grow and develop, and it is of particular importance that neighbors and community members work together to reduce water and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
People can take significant steps to the reduce the mosquito population by managing water sources in and around their homes.
– If you use containers to intentionally collect water, modify the water holder by adding a lid or screen to it so that mosquitoes are prevented from laying eggs in the water.
– Dispose of yard debris such as cans, bottles, and buckets in adequately covered containers so that they do not collect and hold water.
– Empty birdbaths, kiddie pools, and pet water dishes every few days.
– Dispose of used tires and old appliances.
– Clean rain gutters to remove debris that may clog them and prevent proper water drainage.
– Repair or replace any leaky outdoor faucets.
– If there are areas on your property prone to pooling water, and you are unable to properly drain them, place a mosquito larvicide “dunk” in them to kill mosquito larvae and prevent new mosquitoes from hatching. Follow label instructions on the larvicide package.
– Aerate water gardens and ponds, or stock them with fish, to keep the water from becoming stagnant.
– Educate your community. If you have family members or neighbors who are not adequately managing water on their property, you are still at risk of mosquitoes and becoming infected through the bite of a mosquito. Ask your family and neighbors to join you in managing water sources around your and your neighboring homes.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank state and local mosquito control workers for their expertise and hard work,” said Wilcox and Huang. “With the community’s collective efforts in mosquito control and personal prevention measures, we hope everyone enjoys the summer and outdoor activities that we love.”
For additional information on preventing mosquito-borne illnesses, visit:
http://www.oswegocounty.com/health/index.html or http://www.mosquito.org/; call the Oswego County Health Department weekdays at 315-349-3564; or contact Donna Wilcox at The Wilcox Mosquito Foundation, [email protected]
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