Mosquito spraying scheduled for Wednesday in Spring Lake after West Nile virus discovered
SPRING LAKE ‒ Mosquito control officials will spray a neighborhood in Spring Lake early Wednesday morning after the discovery of West Nile virus in the area, Monmouth County officials said.
Mosquito experts will spray an area between the railroad tracks and Ocean Avenue, from Monmouth Avenue south to Shore Road and Brown Avenue. The insecticide Duet Dual-Action, a mixture of Prallethrin and Sumithrin, will be applied between 4:30 and 6 a.m., according to county officials.
"The County Mosquito Control Division is determined to control flying adult mosquitoes and to limit the spread of mosquito-borne illness," Monmouth County Commissioner Deputy Director Susan M. Kiley said in a news release. "We encourage residents to help control the mosquito population by eliminating sources where they can breed, such as removing any standing water around the home by emptying buckets of water and turning them over and drilling drainage holes in garbage and recycling cans."
West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While most infected people experience no noticeable symptoms, about one in five will develop a fever and headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC.
About one in every 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop a life-threatening inflammation of the membranes around the brain or spinal cord, according to the CDC. About 10% of these cases result in death, according to the agency.
As of Sept. 3, six cases of human infections with West Nile virus had been reported to the New Jersey Department of Health so far this year. The cases were reported in Bergen, Camden, Morris, Ocean (two cases) and Union counties. Birds found to be infected with West Nile virus were found in Essex, Morris (two birds) and Somerset counties, according to the health department.
"We recommend our residents protect themselves from mosquito and mosquito-born illnesses by using EPA registered repellents, wearing long sleeves and long pants and limiting outdoor activities at dusk, when possible," said Kiley, the Monmouth County commissioner.
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Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Spring Lake NJ mosquito spraying scheduled for Wednesday
