Sedona AZ (April 26, 2013) – Warming weather means mosquito breeding season and increased concern about illness caused by the West Nile Virus (WNV). The virus is usually transmitted through mosquito bites. Therefore, the easiest and best way to combat WNV is to reduce the potential for mosquitos to breed and the likelihood of being bitten by a mosquito.
When the weather turns warmer, the City of Sedona implements a treatment plan to reduce the potential for mosquitos to breed. The duration of the treatment plan coincides with the WNV season in Sedona, which typically starts at the end of April and goes until November. We have developed a list of areas where stagnant water has developed in the past and we check those areas after rain events. We also monitor the wetlands area at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. The treatment plan for treating these water areas, where mosquitos are likely to breed, consists of using a larvacide that contains no toxic or hazardous materials. This is applied directly to the surface water once per month. Some cities use aerial applications or foggers up to twice per week in the summer during high temperatures. The City of Sedona currently does not perform that type of treatment and has shown good results with larvacide. The public is urged to report any areas of standing water to the Maintenance Department.
You can also take steps to reduce mosquito breeding locations and the likelihood of being bitten. This can be done by following the 4 D’s, which are:
- Drain, be sure to empty any standing water.
- DEET, wear some protective repellent.
- Dress, wear long sleeves and cover as much skin as you can, and
- Dusk (dusk to dawn), in other words, don’t go outside when they’re most active from dusk to dawn.
More information on WNV is available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004457/
For questions, please contact Dan Neimy, City Maintenance Superintendent, City of Sedona Public Works Department, at 928-204-7109.