Monmouth County Sprays Again To Combat Mosquitoes, West Nile Viru

by Patricia A. Miller

The Monmouth County Mosquito Control Commission sprayed pockets of Belmar, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township late Friday night and early Saturday morning in a continuing effort to kill the pests that can carry West Nile virus.

There is ”continued evidence” of West Nile virus activity in those areas, according to a health department advisory.

The areas sprayed included residential streets from the Wall Township border (16th Avenue) north to 11th Avenue and west of the railroad in Belmar; on residential streets north of Allaire Road between Old Mill Road and Route 71 in Spring Lake Heights; and on residential streets south of the Belmar border, north of the Spring Lake Heights border and between Route 35 and the railroad in Wall.

“The goal of the ground spray program is to reduce the public health risk from WNV in the area,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso, liaison to the Mosquito Control Division. “It is also important to remember to always wear insect repellent when outdoors, even if it is only for a few minutes.

Residents were advised to stay inside during the spraying and keep their pets inside as a precautionary measure.

The spray consisted of a very fine mist of the pesticides Duet or Zenivex. Duet is a d-phenothrin/prallethrin and piperonyl butoxide based pesticide product that is used to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas. Zenivex contains a pesticide called Etofenprox, a member of the category of pesticides called non-ester pyrethroids and is considered a reduced risk pesticide by USEPA.

More information about Duet and Zenivex can also be found on the Mosquito Control webpage at www.VisitMonmouth.com.

So far this year there have been 10 cases of West Nile virus in the state, including two deaths. Wall Township resident Andrea Ragan, 57, died on Sept. 9. Mosquito pools in all 21 counties have tested positive for the disease, according to app.com.