Maricopa County takes mosquitoes seriously
BY DENNY BARNEY
People who now call Arizona home often come from places that are much more humid than here. So they are both surprised and annoyed when their morning breakfast on the patio or their nighttime barbecues get raided by pesky mosquitoes. After all, Chandler isn’t Minnesota, where the mosquito is described as the “unofficial state bird.”
Mosquitoes can breed anywhere there are standing pools of water: Lakes; golf courses; culverts; or irrigation. They breed in water and then feast in the air.
Last month, Arizonans received a sad reminder of why Maricopa County takes mosquitoes and West Nile Virus so seriously. An East Valley man in his 60s was confirmed as the state’s first West Nile Virus related death this year. Mosquitoes are not just a pesky nuisance. They are the world’s most efficient bloodsucking machines and carriers of disease. Around the world, they are responsible for epidemics of malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever. They are considered the deadliest insects on earth. And, in Arizona, one common breed, the Culex mosquito, carries West Nile virus, a rare disease causing flu-like symptoms which the majority of those infected will not even be aware of.
That’s why at Maricopa County,
we urge folks to avoid outside activity from dusk to dawn and wear lightweight clothing that covers their arms and legs. The county also has a proactive, comprehensive program of surveillance, monitoring, control, community outreach and, as a last resort in areas heavily infested with mosquitoes, fogging, all under the Vector Control Division of the county Department of Environmental Services.
Here’s a rundown of the process the county uses to track and control mosquitoes:
• Based on breeding history, department staffers will place about 600 traps throughout the county, mostly in trees. These containers are filled with dry ice and as the ice melts, carbon dioxide is produced, and that attracts mosquitoes to the trap. (Side note: We all know carbon dioxide is also in our breath when we exhale, which, of course, is why the mosquitoes are attracted to humans.)
• If more than 30 Culex mosquitoes or 300 floodwater mosquitoes are caught in a single trap, or any of the samples test positive for West Nile virus, then the county will send out fogging trucks and spray a chemical approved by the national Centers for Disease Control. The spraying is done by truck and only between midnight and 5 a.m. so as not to disturb most residents.
• Fogging and swatting are not the only ways to cut down on the mosquito population, however. Ever heard of the Gambusia fish? This is a mosquito-eating machine and the county can actually distribute them to residents with man-made fishponds or pools within their own property—not
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Daly is best candidate for council
To the editor, Chelle Daly is currently a candidate for the Chandler City Council. In my opinion, Ms. Daly is the best choice to lead the City of Chandler today and in the future.
I met Chelle several years ago and have experienced her calm demeanor and willingness to serve the city she is proud to call home. With degrees in computer science and mathematics, and engineering experience at Intel, Chelle has the ability to analyze important issues and make decisions that put the citizens of
Chandler first.
Her many years of community service attest to her unwavering dedication to make Chandler the best East Valley city in which to live and raise a family. Chelle is currently a commissioner for the Chandler Municipal Airport and has served two terms as chairwoman. She was a key contributor in calling for the 2010 airport-noise study, an important issue that affects many Chandler homeowners. As a citizen volunteer, she worked with the Chandler City Council on several important projects including the expansion of classrooms at Snedigar Recreation Center and the Paseo Vista design project.
I support strong women in government and dislike seeing incumbents return to office year after year. Please join me in supporting Chelle Daly as a fresh voice on the Chandler City Council.
Sincerely, Patricia Tudong
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into natural habitat.
Of course, prevention is the better course. Water left standing just a few days from a single monsoon storm can produce hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes outside your own back door. Ponding from bird baths, empty containers or even low spots in the yard can create problems.
Maricopa County will continue to do its part to keep the mosquito population under control and combat the outbreak of disease, but it’s really a job for all of us.
For more information about the mosquito work occurring at Maricopa County, or to register complaints about mosquito activity, call the West Nile virus hotline at (602) 506-0700 or visit www.maricopa.gov/wnv.
Denny Barney is Gilbert resident and chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors from District 1, which includes Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Queen Creek and Ahwatukee.
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