Baton Rouge – The Louisiana Department of Health has developed a management plan in anticipation of the hatching of mosquitoes and flies due to the massive flooding in the area. Mosquito control is needed to protect public health from nuisances and diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, as well as flies.
LDH in coordination with Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, US Environmental Protection Agencies, Department of Defense and in consultation with parish mosquito control districts is implementing a plan to reduce mosquitoes and flies in the areas affected by Hurricane Rita.
Aerial application of routinely used pesticides, primarily Naled, in Vernon parish tomorrow, October 5. The spraying will occur during the last 2-3 hours of daylight. The US Air Force will conduct the aerial applications to assist mosquito control activities normally conducted by parish and local mosquito control districts.
The spraying will use the same pesticides as routinely sprayed to control mosquitoes in the south Louisianaregion. “The timely initiation of preventive measures to control mosquitoes and flies is necessary to reduce the risk of vector-borne diseases” said Dr. Cerise.
Naled is a pesticide routinely used by mosquito control districts in Louisiana. Naled is approved by US Environmental Protection Agency and will be applied according to that agency’s application rates. Studies have shown that Naled does not impact on human health or the environment when used for mosquito control.
The plan will continue based on field monitoring of mosquitoes and flies in the region.
For more information call the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s pesticide hotline at 225-925-3763.