September 2, 2021 18:16
HomeMainRD’s Moab Area Mosquito Abatement Fogging Alert

RD’s Moab Area Mosquito Abatement Fogging Alert

By  Main, Misc  0 Comments

Good afternoon all,
Our next City Council meeting is not until September 14, but I wanted to pass this on as a timely FYI heads up! 

Moab Area Mosquito Abatement (MMAD) will be fogging (spraying) for mosquitoes in one section of town Friday, Sept. 3 at 9:00pm due to the collection of 3 Aedes aegypti mosquitoes over the past week. 

The affected area is a wedge-shaped polygon, bounded by the south side of 100 North, east side of Main St/Hwy 191, and west side of 400 East [Editor’s note: MMAD’s map could not be inserted into this report but Rani provided an easy to follow description of the fogging area].

Have questions?

  • MMAD Manager Dr Michele Rehbein has provided the information sheet (copied below) which includes: suggestions of precautions to take before and during the spraying; how to be added to MMAD’s “do not spray” list; how to help MMAD by reporting biting mosquitoes and through at-home mosquito control such as eliminating standing water; how to avoid mosquito bites; and additional related information/resources.
  • FYI Dr. Rehbein is also creating signs to be posted around the area that will be fogged, and district staff will be going door-to-door during the day tomorrow letting residents know the fogging will take place tomorrow night.
  • Still have questions? Please email MMAD staff at: info@moabmad.org. MMAD also has a web site here: http://www.moabmad.org.

I’m sure there’s more to report on, but for now I’ll leave it there and go make sure my garden buckets and wheelbarrow are upside down!

Rani Derasary, Moab City Councilmember

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MOAB MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT

Contact info: email: INFO@MOABMAD.ORG Phone: (435) 259-7161

Precautions to observe during a spray application: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), spraying for adult mosquitoes is safe when applied in the correct amounts. People who are especially concerned may choose to take some of these steps to help further reduce their exposure. This may include people who are sensitive to chemicals and those with pre-existing respiratory problems.

  • Stay indoors with the windows closed and turn off evaporative coolers until approximately 15-20 minutes after spraying has occurred.
  • Central air units are okay to leave on, as they do not take in outside air.
  • If you are outdoors during spraying operations and you can see the spray, avoid contact with it. If you can’t avoid contact, rinse your skin and eyes with water.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables from your garden before storing, cooking, or eating.
  • Cover outside items like furniture and grills while the spraying is occurring.
  • When spraying is done in the correct amount, it should not pose a risk to humans or pets, however you may bring pets and items like pet food dishes and children’s toys indoors to help reduce the exposure. Any accidental exposure to pets should not cause a problem, we are using a pesticide similar to those used for flea and tick control.
  • If you think you have had a reaction to the mosquito spray, talk to your doctor or call the regional Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
  • If you would like to be added to the Moab Mosquito Abatement District’s “do not spray” list, email info@moabmad.org along with your home address.
  • Help us, help you: Please report any biting mosquitoes or standing water to the mosquito abatement district.

Protect yourself against mosquito bites:

  • Use insect repellent. Select one with an active ingredient of either DEET or picaridin. Both are EPA approved. Picaridin is also the preferred treatment for small children. Both are equally effective and recommended by the World Health Organization.
  • Wear long sleeve, loose fitting shirts and pants when outside during mosquito season. Wearing light-colored clothing can help deter mosquitoes, as these insects are attracted to dark colors.
  • Limit outdoor activity during dusk and dawn when most mosquitoes are most active.
  • Insecticide sprays applied to shrubs and other vegetation around the yard often works against these mosquitoes. The spray is designed to stick up to several weeks so that mosquitoes are killed when they hide in the foliage. Select one labeled for mosquitoes or biting flies and be sure to follow label directions.
  • Please remember to drain standing water around the house weekly.
  • Repair screens around the house; use mosquito netting or screened tents when sleeping outdoors. What you can do for at-home mosquito control:
  • Empty, remove, cover, or turn upside down any receptacle that would hold water – including old bottles and tin cans, wheelbarrows, flowerpots, bird baths, ponds, barrels, toys, puddles, garbage cans, and pet dishes.
  • Change water and scrub vases holding flowers or cuttings, bird baths, and pet dishes twice each week.
  • Discard old tires or store them indoors.
  • Screen rain barrels and openings to water tanks or cisterns. Seal cisterns not in actual use.
  • Repair leaky plumbing and outside faucets. These may cause standing water.
  • Connect open waste-water drains to a sewage system or construct separate sump or leach lines.
  • Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs.
  • Fill holes in trees with sand or mortar, or drain or spray them, as required.
  • Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish.
  • Clean and drain evaporative coolers frequently.
  • Cap fence posts where rainwater could collect.

References, further information, reading, and resources:

  • EPA Mosquito Control information: https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol
  • EPA Controlling Adult Mosquitoes: https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/controlling- adult-mosquitoes
  • CDC Truck Spraying information: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito- control/community/truck-spraying.html
  • CDC West Nile Virus information: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html
  • CDC Mosquito information: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/index.html
  • CDC Preventing Mosquito Bites: https://www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention/prevent-mosquito- bites.html
  • EPA Repellents: Protection Against Mosquitoes, Ticks and Other Arthropods: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents
  • World Health Organization (WHO) West Nile Virus information: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/west-nile-virus
  • American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), mosquito control facts: https://www.mosquito.org/page/Mosqcontrolfacts
  • AMCA Mosquito Info: https://www.mosquito.org/page/mosquitoinfo
  • Utah Mosquito Abatement Association: https://www.umaa.org/
  • West Central Mosquito and Vector Control Association: https://www.westcentralmosquitoandvector.org/
  • University of Florida Mosquito Resources: https://fmel.ifas.ufl.edu/

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