Mosquito Season Not Too Bad Despite Wet Winter

DIAS CREEK — On Mon., June 21, the state Department of Health and Senior Services issued a release urging New Jerseyans to enjoy their summer, but to beware little bloodsuckers and the diseases they carry.
West Nile virus is a viral infection that mosquitoes carry from biting infected birds and can transmit to humans by biting them. The virus is not transmitted from person to person or from bird to person.
“As the peak infection transmission season begins, I encourage our residents to follow some important preventative measures that will help to reduce the risk for being infected with West Nile virus,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Poonam Alaigh.
To prevent the spread of West Nile virus and other mosquito-born diseases, experts suggest the use of bug spray with DEET; avoidance of outdoor activities at dusk, when mosquitoes are most active; and removal standing water from areas such as bird baths, clogged gutters, flowerpots, bottle caps or old car tires. Holes in window and door screens should also be repaired to keep the pests out.
Mosquito experts had predicted a bumper season for the little pests because of the unusually wet winter Cape May County had.
In the beginning of April, Dr. Peter J. Bosak, superintendant of the county Mosquito Control Department, worried because record snow and rain fall created high water tables, which created standing water in areas that are normally dry. Mosquitoes use stagnate, standing water to breed.
“I’m concerned because the water is sitting and the temperatures are rising,” said Bosak. “We have found mosquito larvae pretty much everywhere…I have never seen it this wet and I have talked to the old timers. No one has seen this kind of water sitting around.”
But Bosak told the Herald on Wed., June 23 that the season hasn’t been as bad as he thought it would be. “There have been less adult mosquitoes than I expected,” he said.
Bosak said Mosquito Control, located at 35 Route 47 North, has received about the same amount of mosquito complaints this year as in a regular season, despite the early prediction.
According to a recent story in the Press of Atlantic City, mosquito officials in Atlantic and Ocean counties reported similar findings.
Bosak credits in part the department’s “aggressive stance on larvae control” for the better-than-expected season.
“When it was so wet early on, we decided to concentrate on larvae in areas throughout the county,” he said. They check larvae for size, species and other characteristics, he explained.
This county’s mosquito department works on the local population year round using its helicopter to check salt marshes for larval conditions and also for spraying. Bosak said the main mosquito season runs from the end of May through the beginning of November.
So far this year, Mosquito Control has tested 216 pools of mosquitoes collected locally for both West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis. A pool is typically a group of 50 or more mosquitoes, Bosak explained.
Bosak’s department also acts as a regional testing center.
“We have also tested 50 pools of Culiseta melanura mosquitoes for eastern equine encephalitis as per the contract we have with the State Mosquito Control Commission,” Bosak said. These mosquitoes are from sites in Camden, Salem, Gloucester and Cape May counties, he said.
All pools tested by this county so far this year have been negative for all viruses, Bosak said.
In New Jersey so far this season, 16 birds have been tested for West Nile, all have been negative. In addition, 146 mosquito pools have been tested so far, one pool tested positive in Camden County.
What can happen to someone who is bitten by an infected mosquito?
Most people who are infected with West Nile never develop symptoms, but 20 percent will develop headache, fever, body aches or rash. In rare cases, the virus can lead to encephalitis (inflammation in the brain). The elderly are at higher risk for the more serious form of the disease. Doctors can treat the symptoms of West Nile, but there is no cure.
Last year, there were 720 confirmed human cases of West Nile in the United States and 32 people died. New Jersey had three cases and no fatalities in 2009. This year, none have been reported.
Cape May County residents who have water nearby that has been standing for five to seven days may call Mosquito Control at (609) 465-9038 to have an inspector assess the situation.
To bring greater attention to prevention of mosquito bites, the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) has declared the week of June 20–26 the 14th annual “National Mosquito Control Awareness Week,” which was established to educate the public about the significance of mosquitoes and the important service provided by mosquito control workers.
On Tue., June 22, county Freeholders recognized Matthew Diem, assistant superintendant of Mosquito Control, for the important work he does.