3/10/09 Delta County Mosquito Control Coordination Meeting

Ken Nordstrom, Delta County Dept. of Environmental Health, presented on WNV, how we did last year and plans for this year.

Delta County Mosquito Control District #1, Orchard City, Town of Cedaredge, and PMCD represented.

2008 - Delta Co. - only 1 pos. pool of 226 (collected 8/21/08 in Cedaredge). 1 human case (onset date 8/30/08).
Population of culex peaked later in the season last year than the year before, probably due to weather.

In Colorado, 61 pos. pools and 71 human cases (1 death) last year - lowest since virus came to Colorado in 2003.

Prevalence of virus tends to cycle every few years.  Usually worst when new, then cycles about every 10 years for WEE, other encephalitis viruses.  Not enough information known yet for WNV, but it is starting to cycle up again in eastern areas where the virus first hit.

Trapping -
No word yet on state grant for mosquito surveillance.  John Pape  with the State Dept. of Health retired, so hard to know what will happen.  Delta County health department budget down this year.  Surveillance will be done in house - won't be able to hire temporaries.  Ken appreciates support from us for trapping.  Mike Smolen suggested we investigate whether we can tap into any stimulus package money, perhaps as a collective.  Orchard City will help with traps and suggests it may even be a good thing to have first-hand knowledge of their mosquito counts to help them make judgments about whether to spray.  The County will still be able to send off mosquito pools for WNV testing, but how many not yet known.  We need to know in order to plan for testing. 

5 traps last year in Surface Creek area.  5 traps in Delta, and 10 traps in North Fork area.  Ken would like to continue this.

Orchard City -  Some residents of Austin area (Cory Bench) complained they were being ignored.  Orchard City tried to help out but didn't coordinate with Delta County.  Orchard City uses crop dusters to spray the valley.  Usually 2-3 times per season. Last year they used permanone.  No funding for larviciding.  11 square miles.  Ken trapped some before and after.  Not such good results last year because of timing problems.  To be most effective, need two sprays within a week of each other to knock down the ones in the water.  Post card notification plus notice on water bill about two weeks ahead of time.  Planned date plus back up date.  They estimate 50% of the reason for spraying is nuisance.  Past few years, education regarding irrigation practices, ditches, stagnant waters seemed helpful, especially when the virus was more active.  Local stores carry many products that people can use to protect themselves.

Cedaredge - Golf course and public works did some larviciding last year, seen as helpful by the public.

Delta Co. - 110 square miles, 4 people (one on each route) up to 7 people with rovers and helpers.  Sometimes team up for large areas.  Emphasis is on larviciding.  Mid-May too late.  They start checking in March.  Crew pretty consistent, so not as much training needed.  End of June, early July the mosquitoes come out, especially after a hard rain.  Early larvae in ponds, even under ice.  Buckets, wading pools, rain gutters - need public education to get people to take care of it.  They call people on the sensitive list to notify them of any fogging planned.  Fogging based on need (complaints, investigations, counts).  Areas mapped, checked at least once per week.  Key areas marked in red and checked 2 - 3 times per week.  Use Control 4+4.  Aqua Reslin not as effective.  No Malathion.  Rotate chemicals every five years or so.  Notification of people on list of "want to know."  Everyone in district signs a permission notice to allow them to treat and fog.  Budget for 2009 210,000.  Pay starts at $10 per hour up to 11-12 for experienced workers.  They start at 6:00 a.m. in summer time.  They have two trucks plus an ATV with a sprayer for fogging.  They attribute their success to a great field manager and a cooperative board.  Public relations key.  They are very willing to help out in any way they can with training, advice, support, etc.

Ken discussed public education efforts.  Consensus was that the public was pretty well-informed about WNV.  This year he will focus on water management and prevention of breeding sites.