Mosquito and west nile virus update

This update is provided by the Arizona Department of Real Estate:
West Nile Update-
·         Season’s Activity-It’s been a busy season and it seems that the end of September is bringing no immediate relief in terms of mosquito activity or weather.  To date in 2008, Maricopa County Vector Control has:
o Received 2,500+ mosquito complaints in the first two weeks of September alone
o Received 11,8939 mosquito complaints since January
o Set more than 14,400 surveillance traps
o Larvacided more than 6,300 acres of known, routine breeding sites
o Fogged more than 233,711 acres due to mosquito activity that meet established triggers
o Investigated 10,366 green pool complaints
o Found 147 WNv positive mosquito samples
o Confirmed 48 human cases (including 3 deaths) and 7 more suspect cases
·         Economic Impact- Needless to say, foreclosures are up and with them the number of abandoned houses across the Valley.  Vector Control has seen green pool complaints almost double.  While we continue to work 60 hour weeks and employee volunteers on weekends, we are still dealing with a backlog of complaints. However, there is some good news!  Our new procedure for dealing with abandoned houses appears to be working.  Please advise the appropriate staff in your agency to look for the bright posting on the fence or door that indicates when Vector Control has been to a property and treated the pool with gambusia fish to address the mosquito breeding.  Also, please keep this in mind; drained pools often fill up with stagnant water after weather events, restarting the cycle of mosquito breeding.
·         The New Breed - Aedes Aegypti-For the last five years, the Valley has been hosting a new breed of mosquito which is capable of carrying and conveying West Nile virus.  Unfortunately, this tenacious little species is difficult to fight.  The Aedes Aegypti is a backyard mosquito that can breed in very small amounts of water.  (Our inspectors once found a candy wrapper under an oleander that was putting out plenty of this new species.)  It is also a species known for its daytime activity, making the overnight fogging a rather useless part of our arsenal.  So, what does this mean?  The answer is, as always, prevention.  It is more important than ever that we spread the word about removing breeding sites, especially in our own backyards.
·         Information at your Fingertips-Have you visited our website recently?  In the last year, we’ve automated our surveillance and fogging activity with a GIS system that is available online.  To view trap locations, trap results, fogging activity and more, check www.maricopa.gov/wnv and
 
Choose “Mosquito Activity in your neighborhood” on the right hand side.