THE BUZZ		Volume 4, 15 (Week 30)
		July 28, 2005

Mosquito Activity (Scale from 0 to 5)

• Mosquito activity remains at a 3 due to positive mosquito tests from last week.
• Two pools of mosquitoes tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) from the Lake Forest area of the city. The mosquitoes that tested positive only feed on birds. Testing these mosquitoes is an early warning for monitoring mosquito virus activity. Citizens should use insect repellant that contains DEET to prevent mosquitoes bites any where in the region.

Surveillance

• 10 CDC style light traps were set this week, a total of 1,072 mosquitoes were caught, for an average of 108 per trap. Trap counts were down this week.
• 7 Gravid traps were set this week, a total of 86 mosquitoes were caught, for an average of 13 per trap. Gravid trap counts were also down this week.

Service Requests

• We received 6 complaint calls about mosquitoes this week, many were to report possible mosquito breeding in standing water ditches.

Control

• Control efforts have been stepped up due to the EEE activity in the region. Efforts are focusing on treating standing water and spraying for adult mosquitoes when needed.
• A third spray truck was set up this week, this will allow staff to spray the entire city for adult mosquitoes in only 3 days.
• Crews will be spraying the entire city again this week (weather permitting).
• Mosquito Spraying information is posted on the Mosquito Spray Hotline at 393-8666.

Special Note

• Portsmouth Mosquito Control will be at the open house at Hoffler’s Creek Wildlife Preserve on Sat. July 30 from 11 AM to 3 PM. We will be distributing information on mosquito control, West Nile Virus, and the general precautions citizens can take to help limit their exposure to mosquitoes. We hope to see you there.