The Anderson Observer

Emergency Management Spraying for Mosquitoes Under Way

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division has initiated its mosquito abatement response plan following the positive confirmation of a case of West Nile Virus in a bird. The bird was found at a residence near Broadway Lake and picked up by agency officials then transported to South Carolina DHEC for testing.

There are no confirmed human cases of the disease in Anderson County. The plan is precautionary and in line with DHEC-prescribed action. The Emergency Management Division has already begun implementing mitigation and abatement efforts to eradicate the mosquito population in the affected area through aereal spraying and the use of larvacide briquettes.

The pesticide used during aereal spraying poses no health risk to humans or animals; however, beekeepers with hives in the area should arrange to relocate hives until spraying has been completed.

The county’s pest-control contractor will place larvicide briquettes in areas of standing water, including parts of Broadway Lake, to reduce the mosquito threat. These briquettes should not be handled or disturbed by the public and will remain effective up to 45 days after placement.

A CodeRed message will be sent out this evening to residents within a one-mile radius of where the infected bird was located alerting them to plans for aereal spraying and directing them to the Emergency Management Division website for more information. In addition, the agency will use its social media accounts as well as other county media resources to provide information about West Nile Virus and mosquito-borne illnesses.

Residents are reminded of the most effective ways to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile Virus:

Repellents help keep mosquitoes from biting. Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions.
Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes.

Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, birdbaths, old car tires, rain gutters and pet bowls.
Wearing light-colored clothing to cover the skin reduces the risk of bites.

For additional information regarding the West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, as well as other important tips, follow @ACSCEMD on Facebook and Twitter or visit the following websites:

https://emd.andersonsheriff.org/wnv

http://www.scdhec.gov/HomeAndEnvironment/Insects/Mosquitoes/