Ortonville – During the summer of 2002, the West Nile Virus claimed 20 lives with more than 200 confirmed cases, numbers that have local officials alarmed.
To combat the virus, village and township officials have taken a proactive approach to prevent further spread.
Using funds allocated by Oakland County, the village contracted State Department of Agriculture certified, Lapeer based Green Hornet Pest Control to spray mosquito larvicides every other week.
The applications will increase to nine compared to last year where the village contracted for four applications.
‘Areas like the ball fields and parks are nesting areas for mosquitos,? said Brian McLean, owner of The Green Hornet. ‘Spraying the barrier areas will deter mosquitos moving into the areas.?
In an unprecedented move, village council approved to spend $1,800 more this year for additional applications as well as expanding the spraying areas to include the Senior Center on Ball Steet and the Old Mill property. Both were not included in the 2002 spray schedule. The Ball Street baseball fields, Crossman, Narrin and Sherman Parks will also be sprayed this year.
Both adulticides which kills adult mosquitos and larvicides, which target mosquito larvae are used as temporary relief from pest infiltration. The increased spraying will further decrease larvae regeneration in the breeding areas. The spray barrier will also discourage adult mosquitos from coming into the areas for habitation.
‘We’ve decided to take a proactive approach to this by targeting the larve,? said Zelenak.
For communities without a mosquito control program an epidemic in the area can be overwhelming. In an effort to prevent the staggering costs of multiable diseases, Oakland County is distributing more than $500,000 to assist communities in reducing mosquito population in condensed areas.
Of those funds both Groveland and Brandon townships have been allocated between $7,000 and $9,000 to combat mosquitos that may carry the West Nile Virus.
Tom Stowell, a Brandon Township trustee who is spearheading the Brandon West Nile prevention program said $5,000 of the funds will be used for prevention education including brochures that will be mailed to residents in their summer tax bills.
Brandon, Groveland, Springfield and Rose townships will disstribute prevention materials via brochures, in addition to providing information on local cable and in local newspapers. They will also give community presentations.
An additional $2,000 will be used in partnership with the village program toward spraying and possibly purchasing larvacide tablets for placement in storm drains and catch basins.
Susan Weinert, public health educator for Oakland County, said although Oakland County has not found evidence of the virus this season, there may be a carryover from last year, which is why residents need to be prepared and practice personal prevention.