The Camden County Mosquito Commission will be spraying in the following areas from 2 to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, weather-permitting:
• Chateau Drive
• Blossom Court
• Prince Drive
• Autumn Lane
• Spring Road
• Syracuse Drive
• Rutgers Road
• Colgate Drive
• Dartmouth Road
• Clemson Road
• Purple Place
• Bucknell Drive
• Kenwood Drive
• Suffolk Court
• Bowood Drive
• Brookmead Drive
• Westover Drive
• Midway Drive
• Briar Road
• Wayland Road
• Sharrowvale Road
• Pelham Road
• Redstone Ridge
• Sawmill Road
• Partree Road
• Dorset Road
• Weston Drive
• Ashford Road
• Weston Court
• Tendring Road
• Wexford Drive
• Dunbarton Road
• Lavenham Road
• Chapel Ave.
• Glen Lane
• Knollwood Drive
• Coach Lane
• Darby Lane
• Eddy Lane
• S. Forge Lane
• Lafferty Drive
• Bellows Lane
• Orchid Lane
• Pebble Lane
• Meryl Lane
• Kings Hwy North
• Forrest Road
• Ramble Road
• Kingsley Road
• Kingsport Road
• King George Road
• Bancroft Road
• Salsbury Road
• Hastings Road
• Douglas Drive
• Lee Ann Road
• Cooper Landing Road
• McGill Avenue
• Connecticut Avenue
• Massachusetts Avenue
• Rhode Island Avenue
• Brookline Avenue
• Valley Run Drive
• Windsor Drive
• Royal Oak Avenue
• Brentwood Avenue
• Berkshire Avenue
• Maine Avenue
The Camden County Mosquito Commission regularly checks several thousand suspected mosquito breeding sites across the county. Spraying is scheduled on an as needed basis based upon the results of their surveillance efforts.
“Whether major storms or light showers hit the area, it is imperative for all homeowners to routinely check their yard for standing water and eliminate any areas where mosquitoes can thrive,” said Freeholder Jeffrey Nash, liaison to the Camden County Mosquito Commission. “This simple act can help reduce the mosquito population in your neighborhood, and assist the efforts of the Camden Count Mosquito Commission.”
The mosquito spray is not harmful to humans or pets, but you should avoid direct contact if you have respiratory concerns or are sensitive to irritants.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the main route of human infection with West Nile Virus is through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Individuals over the age of 50 are more likely to develop serious symptoms of West Nile Virus, and should take special care to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
“Our county mosquito commission works with the Public Health Environmental Laboratories in Trenton to verify the presence of West Nile Virus and other communicable diseases in their samples,” Nash said. “If a pool tests positive for West Nile Virus the Mosquito Commission returns to spray the area. The sprayings take place when the mosquitoes are most active.”
Residents should check their property for any object that holds water for more than a few days. All pre-adult mosquito stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) must be in stagnant water in order to develop into adult mosquitoes.
• Swimming pools are a common problem. All pools must be checked and maintained to keep them mosquito-free. Swimming pools can breed mosquitoes within days after you stop adding chlorine or other disinfectant. Pool covers can catch rainwater and become a mosquito development site. Add a little chlorine to kill mosquitoes.
• Maintain screens to prevent adult mosquitoes from entering your home or business.
• Personal protection is strongly urged if you are outside when mosquitoes may be active—generally dawn and dusk. Insect repellants containing between 10-35% DEET are very effective, however, be sure to follow the label directions and take extra precautions with children and infants.
The Camden County Mosquito Commission suggests checking around your yard for mosquito breeding containers. The following is a checklist of tips to help eliminate mosquito breeding:
• Dispose of unnecessary containers that hold water. Containers you wish to save turn upside down or put holes in the bottom so all water drains out.
• Lift up flowerpots and dump the water from the dish underneath every week.
• Stock fish or add mosquito larvicide to ornamental ponds.
• Change water in bird baths, fountains, and animal troughs weekly.
• Screen vents to septic and other water tanks.
• Store large boats so they drain and small boats upside down. If covered, keep the tarp tight so water does not pool on top of the tarp.
• Do not dump leaves or grass clippings into a catch basin or streams.
• Do not allow water to collect on sagging tarps or awnings.
• Do not allow trashcan lids to fill with water.
• Check downspouts that are able to hold enough water to allow mosquito larvae to mature.
For more information, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at (856) 566-2945.