Encephalitis Mosquitoes found in Lafitte Area

 

 

Have you gotten one of these on your door ?? 

 

Mosquito Control of Jefferson Parish has found encephalitis mosquitoes in traps that have been placed in different areas of Lafitte. 

 

If you recieved this notice it means an area tested positive for mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus, which can cause encephalitis, in a 10 block radius of your home. 

 

Please don't panic, but get informed.

 

 

In response to the increased West Nile activity reported in Louisiana, Jefferson Parish’s contractor, Mosquito Control Services, LLC, has significantly increased abatement efforts, including spraying and mosquito testing.

Over the past three months, Mosquito Control Services has been spraying at elevated levels and these efforts increase if a positive West Nile result is found in a mosquito sample, chicken flock or an animal or human. A positive West Nile result triggers a specific expanded suppression protocol which concentrates intensified mosquito abatement efforts in the area surrounding a positive sample.

This increased activity includes:

Door to door pamphlet distribution and public education in the immediate area of the positive sample.

Intensified larval inspections, breeding site and storm drain treatments, and reduction of mosquito breeding sites throughout the entire zone of the positive sample.

Three night time spray truck applications of the immediate area and surrounding zone.

Additional traps in the immediate area of the positive sample for mosquito population and disease activity evaluation following control procedures.

Elevated abatement operations will continue until vector mosquito numbers fall below established threshold levels and all samples are determined to be negative for encephalitis.

Jefferson Parish residents are advised to police their own property for standing water. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle. Remember, just about anything that can hold water, even a bottle cap, could be an ideal place for mosquitoes to breed. Proper control measures can go a long way in stopping the spread of mosquito borne illnesses like West Nile Virus.

Residents are encouraged to take the following precautions around the home:

• Empty containers that might be holding water weekly.
• Flush bird baths, kiddie pools, pet water bowls, and bromeliads weekly.
• Don't over water potted plants; remove pans under flower pots to dump any unnecessary water.
• If you have a swimming pool, fountain, pond or water garden, make sure it has a pump that is operational and keeps water circulating. Stock ponds with minnows or other fish.
• Treat swimming pools with appropriate chemicals on a regular basis.
• Check roof gutters to make sure they are not clogged or holding water.
• Fill and grade low spots, indentations and tire tracks.
• Remove trash and spare parts from your yard and keep grass mowed.
• Keep boats, barbecue grills, etc. covered (make sure tarp is tight and doesn't hold water) or drain regularly.
• Remove old tires from your yard by placing them curbside for collection (4/week/home) or bring them to the nearest trash drop off site for disposal.
• Fill tree holes and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete.
• Residents are advised to take the following steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites: avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk, wear long sleeves and long pants when outside, use insect repellant containing DEET according to label directions. All window and door screens should be bug tight.

For additional information about mosquito abatement efforts or to report problem swimming pools or other potential sites of mosquito breeding in Jefferson Parish, please call the Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs 504-731-4612 or Mosquito Control 504-366-0084