Mayors Office – News – Articles – October 2023 – 2023-10-27 Mosquito Abatement

October 27, 2023 | From City of New Orleans

New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board to Conduct Adult Mosquito Abatement Tonight

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) will conduct adult mosquito abatement tonight. Adulticide applications this evening will target adult populations of floodwater mosquitoes. Treatments will be conducted by truck from 6:30 p.m. to 12 a.m., weather permitting, in the following areas:

• Lakeview/West End in the area bounded by I-610, Wisner Boulevard, Allen Toussaint Boulevard and the parish line
• Lake Shore/Lake Vista in the area bounded by Allen Toussaint Boulevard, Beauregard Avenue and Lakeshore Drive
• Gentilly in the area bounded by Filmore Avenue, Elysian Fields Avenue, Bayou St. John and Lakeshore Drive

An increase in floodwater mosquitos has been observed over the past few weeks. The increase in these populations is typical after periods of drought followed by rainfall. These mosquitoes tend to lay their eggs in the moist soil in temporary pools and ponds created by rain and tend to emerge in large numbers after these areas flood. Mosquitoes can lay eggs in nearly anything that can hold water, such as tires, buckets, wheelbarrows, clogged gutters, unkept swimming pools, tarps (and other plastics) and kiddie pools. Mosquitoes can develop from eggs to adult mosquitoes in approximately seven days.

NOMTRCB asks that residents remain vigilant and to tip over or toss out any items that hold water to prevent mosquito breeding. In containers that cannot be removed, such as bird baths, sugar kettles, pools and ponds, residents are urged to drain and replace water weekly. Residents should also take 10 minutes a week when taking out their garbage to inspect and remove any standing water on their property for any potential mosquito breeding sites.

West Nile and other mosquito-borne viruses are more prevalent in the summer and early fall. Mosquitoes and human cases have been detected throughout the State of Louisiana. While the majority of West Nile virus (WNV) infections are asymptomatic, the virus can cause serious symptoms, especially for those above 65 years old or in immunocompromised people.

Protect Yourself

• Reduce mosquito exposure by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
• Use air conditioning or sit in the air stream of a fan outdoors when possible.
• Make sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside the home.
• Use CDC-approved repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
• When using repellent, always follow the recommendations on the product label.

Protect Your Home

• Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed around the home and yard by tipping over all outdoor containers at least weekly.
• Make sure swimming pools and fountains are functional and circulating.
• Remove trash and clutter and turn over any object that can hold water, such as kiddie pools, buckets, empty trash cans, children’s toys or plant pot trays.
• Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed, such as bird baths, pet water bowls or non-functional fountains.
• Scrub the sides of the containers to remove mosquito eggs that may have been deposited.
• Rain barrels and other water collection devices must be screened, and collected water should be used within one week.
• Aerate ornamental pools, fountains and sugar kettles, or stock them with fish or mosquito dunks.
• Store outdoor toys, trash cans, empty plant vases and other water-holding containers upside down when not in use.

Report Mosquito Issues

Please report mosquito-related issues using one of the following methods:

For more information on WNV, visit the CDC website:

www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html

 For information on guidelines followed by NOMTRCB for integrated pest management, visit the Louisiana Mosquito Control Association (LMCA) website:

www.mosquito.org/page/training

For pest management tips, abatement announcements, spray maps and general information, follow NOMTRCB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @nolamosquito.

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