Public Health Update: Southern Nevada Health District completes first mosquito fogging operation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 14, 2017

LAS VEGAS — The Southern Nevada Health District completed its first mosquito control operation during the early morning hours on Friday, June 9 in an effort to reduce the invasive Aedes mosquito populations. The mosquito control operation occurred in the area bordered by the cross streets of Alexander Road and Decatur Blvd. and Valley Drive and Gowan Road. The fogging operation lasted about 45 minutes and was completed by 2 a.m.

The Health District’s Vector Surveillance team applied Duet, a product registered for mosquito control by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency comprised of active ingredients for mosquito control recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Staff continues to set mosquito traps in the area to determine the success of the operation and how mosquito control will proceed during the coming months. The Health District urges residents to remove sources of stagnant water from their homes to prevent mosquito breeding in the community.

On May 31, the Southern Nevada Health District’s Vector Surveillance Program identified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the 89032 ZIP code area of Clark County, which was the first time the mosquito has been detected in Southern Nevada. As of Thursday, the Health District has trapped a total of 24 Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, none of which have tested positive for disease.

To date, the Aedes aegypti has been found in 26 states and the District of Columbia, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This mosquito is responsible for transmitting several diseases including dengue fever, chikungunya, and the Zika virus. Though the mosquitoes have not tested positive for disease, Health District staff will be conducting surveillance and possibly additional fogging operations in an effort to prevent establishment of the mosquitoes in the community and reduce the risk of disease to residents.

The Health District reported 22 cases of Zika virus in Clark County residents in 2016. Twenty-one cases were travel-associated, and one was sexually transmitted. There has been one travel-associated case reported in 2017. In addition to mosquito bites, Zika virus can be spread from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, and it can spread during sex from an infected person to his or her partners.

Residents are urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Unlike mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile virus and are most active at dawn and dusk, Aedes mosquitoes are more aggressive during the day. They are known to breed near homes in containers as small as a bottle cap and primarily bite humans. Residents are urged to report all mosquito activity to the Health District, particularly day-biting mosquitoes. Mosquito activity can be reported to the Vector Surveillance Program at (702) 759-1633.

Mosquito Control 

• • Check your yard weekly for water-filled containers or after every use of sprinklers or rain.
  • Throw away or recycle water-holding containers that are not needed.
  • If empty containers or large objects, such as boats or old appliances must be stored, they should be covered, turned over, or placed under a roof that does not allow them to fill with water.
  • Clean and scrub bird baths and pet-watering dishes weekly and dump the water from overflow dishes under potted plants and flower pots.
  • Fill tree holes and other cavities in plants with sand or soil.
  • Eliminate areas of standing water around your home, including non-circulating ponds, “green” swimming pools, and accumulated sprinkler runoff, which support mosquito breeding.
  • Check for hidden bodies of water such as wells, septic tanks, manholes, clogged drains, etc.
  • Call the Health District to report mosquitoes.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

• • Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or 2-undecanone. Always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children.
  • Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
  • Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, and cut or irritated skin.
  • Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.
  • Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
  • Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts to reduce mosquito exposure when outdoors.
  • Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without tears or holes.
  • If you are outdoors in a mosquito infested area, place mosquito netting over infant carriers.
  • Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure.

For up-to-date information on Zika and travel recommendations visit the CDC website. For more information on mosquito surveillance activities in Southern Nevada access the Southern Nevada Health District website.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.