City prepares to spray

The City of Sidney Parks Department will conduct initial mosquito spraying on Sunday evening, July 17th . Weather permitting, spraying will continue each Sunday evening from approximately 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm, into September.

In tropical countries, mosquitoes transmit malaria, Dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika virus, and filariasis among other diseases. In the U.S., West Nile Virus has become a common mosquito borne disease affecting humans. Outbreaks frequently follow a surge in the mosquito population brought on by warm, wet weather.

Mosquitoes also transmit canine heartworm, fatal to dogs once contracted. Pet owners can purchase a preventative medicine from a veterinarian.

The City is spraying to kill adult mosquitos that may be carrying West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV poses a serious public health concern in our community, since it can cause serious illness in people. The culex tarsalis mosquito, which carries WNV, is more common in the late summer.

Spraying does not kill all of the mosquitos. Spraying is just one of several ways the city is trying to protect people from WNV. The City is treating areas with standing water. A larvacide briquette is used to eliminate mosquito larva before they become adults. Individual protection at the citizen level is the most efficient and effective way to fight mosquitos.

Avoid going outside during dawn and dusk. If you do go out, wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants

Use a mosquito repellant that contains DEET and use it according to the label. (Do not use on infants under 2 months of age).

Get rid of any standing water around your home.

The City operates new, safe equipment that converts liquid pesticide into a very fine mist. The technical name for this is Ultra Low Volume (ULV) spraying. Only 1.5 ounces of the pesticide product is needed to treat an area of land about the size of a football field. Under the most favorable conditions, mosquitos will be controlled up to 300 feet downwind. The equipment is noisy when it operates.

The pesticide ANVIL 2+2 is a premixed, ready to use product that contains two active ingredients: Sumithrin (2%) and piperonyl butoxide (2%). Sumithrin is a man-made version of a natural pesticide found in chrysanthemum flowers. It is a pyrethroid pesticide and is available for sale in stores in products used to control ticks, fleas, and ants. Piperonyl butoxide helps Sumithrin work better against mosquitos. ANVIL 2+2 is registered with the U.S. EPA and is effective against mosquitos that carry WNV.

ANVIL 2+2 is one of the least toxic pesticides to humans available. People with extremely sensitive allergies to pyrethroid pesticides or severe asthma may contact the City Office at 254-5300 and ask that their property be added to the “No Spray” list. However, reducing mosquito populations will reduce the number of people that get sick or die from WNV. ANVIL 2+2 breaks down rapidly in sunlight and water and poses very minimal environmental concerns. The ingredients in ANVIL 2+2 are not corrosive and will not damage paint.