Expecting "surge" of mosquitoes, city will begin spraying Sunday

Relief is on the way for those worried about West Nile or suffering from itchy bites. Mosquito spraying in Sidney starts this weekend.

"They're not too bad recently because there hasn't been water," said superintendent of Sidney parks, Tom Von Seggern. But he predicted that the volume of mosquitoes will soon rise because of the recent rain.

"I expect there to be a surge," Von Seggern said.

The city uses a spray process called ultra low volume. This means that about 1.5 oz of the pesticide is used on an area around the size of a football field. The pesticide contained in the spray is called ANVIL 2+2. The active ingredients in it are Sumithrin and piperonyl butoxide. This product is registered with the EPA and is proven effective against culex mosquitoes, which most commonly carry West Nile.

The parks department will start spraying this Sunday from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Von Seggern travels east and west down every other street, usually starting on the north side. The next Sunday he visits the streets he missed during the prior week.

The machine the parks department uses is calibrated once a year in Scottsbluff to make sure its operating at peak efficiency. The equipment produces a very fine spray. This is beneficial because smaller particles hang in the air for a longer time and are more likely to stick to the bodies of insects.

The pesticide the city uses is one of the least toxic products of its kind, according to the city of Sidney. It is not likely to cause problems to anyone except those with very sensitive allergies to pyrethroid pesticides and people with extreme asthma, the city said. The ingredients in this product will not damage paint on cars or houses.

"Its a pretty safe product," Von Seggern said.

Although the spray is safe, the chemical isn't without disadvantages.

"It has an odor and our machine is awfully loud," Von Seggern said.

In addition to spraying, the city is making other efforts to cut down on mosquito populations. Von Seggern cleaned water out of culverts and placed larvacide bricks in areas where standing water might accumulate.

Von Seggern cannot introduce larvacide or spray outside of city limits. Mosquitoes can travel around three miles, so even if he places larvacide and sprays thoroughly, it's unlikely that he will eliminate the threat of West Nile completely.

Von Seggern budgets $6000 dollars per year to spend on larvacide, pest spray and equipment. The spraying will continue every Sunday until early September.

The city recommends that citizens take some additional precautions against the insects as well.

"People can do a lot of good themselves to protect from West Nile," Von Seggern said.

The best ways for citizens to protect themselves are to avoid going out around dawn and dusk, wear long pants and sleeves and to use a spray with DEET in it if they must go out during these times. Those with small children who are concerned about West Nile shouldn't overload kids with products containing DEET. Sprays with 100 percent DEET are not that much more potent than those with a much lower percentage.

"Twenty to thirty percent DEET is nearly as effective," Von Seggern said.

Mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile were found by the Panhandle Public Health District in Garden and Scotts Bluff counties last month.

“Finding the virus in mosquitoes gives public health officials an indication of the level of virus in the area and the risk to human beings of contracting the disease,” said Tabi Prochazka, Environmental Health Coordinator for PPHD in a press release.

West Nile can cause symptoms similar to the flu like fever and muscle weakness. The virus can also incite more severe reactions like encephalitis. Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain which can cause disorientation, convulsions and paralysis. Those who have a compromised immune system or who are older than 50 can be more susceptible to the disease and its effects.

"West Nile is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird,” Prochazka said.