County residents urged to take mosquito precautions

As the mosquito season enters into the peak period for West Nile virus activity, Monmouth County urges residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Monmouth County Freeholder Robert D. Clifton, liaison to the county's Mosquito commission, said the summer in Monmouth County is prime time for mosquitoes that thrive in water and humidity.

"Residents also need to be vigilant in protecting themselves and reducing the places where mosquitoes increase their population," Clifton said.

Douglas Guthrie Sr., superintendent of the county's mosquito control program, said the county's mosquito surveillance shows that the West Nile virus is amplified when the bird-mosquito cycle begins to accelerate. He stressed the importance of personal protection against mosquito bites.

"It is important that citizens follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendations for personal protection," Guthrie said.

The CDC recommends people reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and, as a result, lower their exposure to insect borne diseases by applying insect repellent following the label instructions, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever possible, and avoiding outdoor activity at peak mosquito times — dusk and dawn.

The CDC also recommends the use of repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) or picaridin

(KBR 3023). Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8- diol) provide better protection than other plant-based repellents but fall short compared to products containing high concentrations of DEET, according to the CDC.

"You should choose a repellent

that provides protection for the amount of time you will be outdoors," Guthrie said. "Repellents with a higher percentage of an active ingredient, like DEET, typically provide longer-lasting protection."

In addition to personal protection against mosquito bites, the county emphasizes that homeowners should ensure that window and door screens are in good repair, and that their property is free of water-holding containers such as cans, buckets, tires, flower pots and wheelbarrows.

"The best way to prevent a mosquito bite is to eliminate backyard larval mosquito habitats," Sean Healy, Mosquito Commission entomologist, said.

For the latest information on mosquito control and mosquito-borne disease activity in Monmouth County, residents can visit www.visitmonmouth.com.

Up-to-date mosquito control information can also be heard on the Mosquito Commission's hotline at 732-578-1600.