Press Releases

For Immediate Release • June 16, 2009
Staff Contact: Dan Wolford, Open Space and Trails Manager, 303-774-4691
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See more West Nile Virus Information

City Preps for West Nile Mosquitoes

Trap count numbers increasing

June 16, 2009 - With the detection of a mosquito carrying West Nile Virus in Larimer County last week, and as mosquito trap numbers rise in Longmont, city officials are preparing to help limit the spread of mosquitoes in the city.

Within the last few weeks, the City's contractor, Colorado Mosquito Control (CMC), has detected rising numbers of mosquitoes in traps that have been placed around the City of Longmont. When the trap number reaches 100 or above and West Nile has been detected in the vicinity, the City's Mosquito Abatement Plan calls for localized spraying in the affected areas to help contain the spread of mosquitoes.

"Some of our traps are close to that threshold," Longmont Open Space and Trails Manager Dan Wolford said. "We will continue to monitor the situation but if this trend continues, it is likely that localized adulticide spraying could begin as early as next week."

This type of localized spraying is limited only to the immediate area located near the traps. Typical hotspots for mosquito activity generally concentrate around water. These locations include Boulder County Fairgrounds, Jim Hamm Park, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Clover Basin, and St. Vrain Greenway.

"We adhere to a very specific protocol for combating mosquitoes," Wolford added. "There are no indications that a larger effort is necessary at this time."

The designated threshold for spraying is triggered when any one of eleven trap sites throughout the City encounters adult mosquitoes of 100 or greater and West Nile has been detected in the vicinity - this spraying is then site-specific. These trap sites are monitored and evaluated on a weekly basis. This information is shared between CMC, the Boulder County Public Health Department and the City.

When these affected areas are targeted for spraying, the City alerts the public in a number of ways including:

an ad every Tuesday in the Times-Call newspaper,
a posting to the City's Web site at www.ci.longmont.co.us,
a posting to the CMC Web site at http://www.comosquitocontrol.com/Spray_Schedules.html ,
a notification to neighbors who sign-up through Colorado Mosquito Control, and
the public can sign-up for e-alert notifications sent directly to their e-mail box.

The City has invested much time and resources in a continuing outreach and public education effort that encourages the public to take precautions against West Nile mosquitoes including:

reminders printed in the city's newsletters, Longmont Life and City Line;
personal protection tips posted to the City's Web site,
instructional video from the Centers for Disease Control available on the City's Web site,
trap count information from Colorado Mosquito Control ,
informational brochures printed and available at the Longmont Civic Center, and
mosquito repellent wipes are available from City staff at local events like ArtLink, the Summer Concert Series and Rhythm on the River

The public is urged to follow the for D's of personal protection:

DEET: Use insect repellant that contains at least 10% DEET. If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours, consider the use of an insect repellant containing 10% to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl- methyl-meta-toluamide). Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for periods of approximately two hours.

Use DEET according to manufacturer's directions.
In addition: DEET is not recommended for children under 2 months of age.
Do not apply DEET directly to children, and do not apply it to children’s hands. Apply to your own hands, then put it on the child.
Apply DEET sparingly on exposed skin; do not apply under clothing.
Do not use DEET over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin. Wash all treated skin and clothing after returning indoors.

Dress: Dress in long sleeves and long pants. If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, children and adults should wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks.

Dusk and Dawn: Reduce or eliminate outdoor activity between dusk and dawn.

Drain: Make sure to drain standing water around your home.

Remove all discarded tires from your property.
Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water-holding containers.
Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered.
Drain water from pool covers.
Change the water in bird baths at least once a week.
Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
Eliminate any standing water that collects on your property.
Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.

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