The vector control program is a voluntarily provided service by the Montgomery County Health Department. It is not a state-required service and is not provided by all health departments. That being the case, it is not a local taxpayer-funded program. The Montgomery County Health Department earmarks funding each year from a grant for vector control.
We continue this program because we believe that there is a benefit to providing such a service and feel the community must also understand there are certain requirements and limitations to such a program. The health department utilizes an adulticiding spray for vector control. The product used is quite expensive so we must be very prudent in its use. While there are 3 state-certified applicators in our office, there is only one vehicle for spraying for the entire county. The vector control specialists also work full time in our office during the day and spraying can only be done in the evening. Here are certain criteria that are required to spray to make the process more effective.
- Spraying can only be done beginning at dusk - when adult mosquitoes come out
- Wind speeds cannot be more than 7 miles per hour to allow for proper drift
- Temps must remain between 80-75 degrees after dusk
- Only public areas may be sprayed
- We cannot spray along creeks and streams
- We cannot spray when it is raining or there is a threat of rain within 4 hours
We hope to set a realistic expectation regarding what vector control and spraying for mosquitoes will and will not do. First and foremost we do not spray to eradicate mosquitoes; we spray to reduce the possibility of contact with mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus. West Nile will become a more prevalent issue in the dry hot season in mid to late summer. In the last two summers, there has not been a positive WNV pool of mosquitoes collected during trapping in our county. (We actually set traps, collect, count, and type mosquitoes for submission to the state for testing.) Spraying will only kill adult mosquitoes that are out and come in contact with the fog being sprayed. It does not impact larvae. The most impactful prevention is to eliminate as much as possible the breeding sites which exist on residential properties. If you would like any more information or education materials to share with friends and neighbors we would gladly send some along to you.
If you have any further questions or feel that we have not adequately answered your questions please feel free to call our office. (765) 364-6440