KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is confirming that there will be no aerial treatment spraying of insecticide in the city of Kalamazoo and Portage due to too many property owners opting out of the spraying.
“Due to the large amount of residents who have chosen to exercise their option to opt out under the MDARD law, aerial application of insecticide will no longer be an effective treatment option for Kalamazoo County.” said James Rutherford, Health Officer Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services.
County residents may still see planes flying over their properties due to neighboring counties being treated. Some sprayings have been postponed due to incliment weather.
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KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County officials are agreeing to aerial spraying of pesticides Sunday night to hopefully put an end to the rising cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
County Commissioner Mike Quinn confirmed that news on Friday after they debated on what was the best step to prevent this rare mosquito-borne disease.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reached out to the counties that have reported cases of EEE in animals or humans earlier this week to consider using aerial spraying.
Spraying will occur in 14 counties: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Montcalm, Newaygo, St. Joseph and Van Buren.
At this time, the spraying is scheduled to take place starting Sunday, September 29th at 8 p.m. through 4:30 a.m. Monday.
According to MDHHS, “Mosquito control professionals will apply approved pesticides as an ultra-low volume (ULV) spray. ULV sprayers dispense very fine aerosol droplets that stay suspended in the air and kill adult mosquitoes on contact. This is a tactic other states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have recently employed to combat EEE.”
The pesticide being used is “Merus 3.0,” an organic pesticide that contains 5% pyrethrin which are chemicals found naturally in some chrysanthemum flowers.
Pyrethrins are commonly used to control mosquitoes, fleas, flies, moths, ants and many other pests.
Officials say no health risk or specific precautions are recommended when the spraying is taking place, unless residents have a known sensitivity to pyrethrins.
A map of the aerial treatment zones can be found here.
Frequently asked questions about EEE and the aerial spraying can be found here.
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MORE EEE INFORMATION:
According to MDHHS, “EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, with a 33 percent fatality rate in people who become ill. People can be infected with EEE from the bite of a mosquito carrying the viruses. Persons younger than age 15 and over age 50 are at greatest risk of severe disease following infection.”
However, they add that, “Only about 4-5% of human EEE infections result in EEE illness. EEE infection is thought to confer life-long immunity against re-infection.”
MDHHS also released some tips on how to avoid mosquito bites:
- Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered product to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites.
- Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes outside.
- Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.
- Use nets and/or fans over outdoor eating areas.
More information can be found here.
