Mosquito Spraying Set For Wall, Spring Lake Heights After West Nile Virus Found: County

Wall, NJ -- The Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division will conduct ground spraying for mosquitoesin the West Belmar section of Wall and in Spring Lake Heights on Tuesday, officials announced.

The spraying is in response to evidence of West Nile virus found in the area, the division said.

Spraying will be conducted between 9 p.m. and midnight on Tuesday, June 28, the announcement said.

The area south of Belmar Boulevard between Route 35 and Route 71 in Wall Township and streets north of Allaire Road between Old Mill Road and Route 71 in Spring Lake Heights will be treated, the division said.

Wall and Spring Lake Heights also were sprayed last fall after evidence of West Nile virus was found in the area.

The application will be made using truck-mounted ultra-low volume equipment dispensing a very fine mist of the pesticide Duet. Duet is a d-phenothrin/prallethrin and piperonyl butoxide based pesticide product that is used to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas.

Residents in the area scheduled for the spraying should remain inside and protect pets while sprayers are in the area. Children's toys and pets' food and water bowls should be brought inside, and the intake fan of window air conditioners should be turned off to further limit exposure, officials said.

The spraying will not be conducted if winds are stronger than 10 mph or if there is inclement weather, the division said.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by an infected mosquito that had fed on an infected birds. The virus can cause febrile (fever) illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“The goal of the ground spray program is to reduce the public health risk from (West Nile virus) 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 repellant when outdoors, even if it is only for a few minutes.”

To help residents identify ways to help reduce the mosquito population, Monmouth County has created a mosquito habitat checklist which is available at www.visitmonmouth.com/mosquito.

(Mosquito, Aedes_Albopictus; Centers for Disease Control photo)