For Immediate Release:
August 7, 2008
It’s mosquito season!
County reminds residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes
FREEHOLD – As the mosquito season enters into the peak period for West Nile Virus activity, Monmouth County urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
“The summer weather in Monmouth County is prime time for mosquitoes that thrive in water and humidity,” said Freeholder Robert D. Clifton, liaison to the Monmouth County’s Mosquito Commission. “Residents also need to be vigilant in protecting themselves and reducing the places where mosquitoes increase their population.”
"At this time of year, the county’s mosquito surveillance shows that the West Nile virus is amplified as the bird-mosquito cycle is beginning to accelerate," said Douglas Guthrie Sr., Superintendent of the county's mosquito control program. Guthrie stresses the importance of personal protection against mosquito bites.
“It is important that citizens follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations for personal protection," Guthrie cautioned. The CDC recommends that people can reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and, as a result, lower their exposure to insect-borne diseases by following some simple steps:
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When outdoors, apply insect repellent following the label instructions, especially for use on children
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wear long sleeved shirts and long pants whenever possible
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avoid outdoor activity at peak mosquito times - dusk and dawn
The CDC also recommends the use of repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) or picaridin (KBR 3023). Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol) provide better protection than other plant-based repellents but fall short compared to products containing high concentrations of DEET.
“You should choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time you will be outdoors,” said Guthrie. “Repellents with a higher percentage of an active ingredient, like DEET, typically provide longer-lasting protection.”
In addition to personal protection against mosquito bites, the county emphasizes that homeowners should ensure that window and door screens are in good repair, and that their property is free of water-holding containers such as cans, buckets, tires, flower pots and wheelbarrows that create areas where mosquitoes can breed. "The best way to prevent a mosquito bite is to eliminate backyard larval mosquito habitats,” noted Sean Healy, Mosquito Commission entomologist.
For the latest information on mosquito control and mosquito-borne disease activity in Monmouth County, residents can log onto the county’s Web site at
http://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/mosquito/mosquito.html
Up-to-date mosquito control information can also be heard on the Mosquito Commission's hotline at (732) 578-1600.
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