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Adulticiding

MPHD recognizes that infected adult mosquitoes can transmit diseases of public health importance. The preferred mosquito control strategies of the Department involve the use of non-chemical mosquito control methods including public education, breeding site reduction and application of larvicides as previously described.

However, despite intensive efforts to eliminate breeding sites and apply larvicides, there may be times when a significant and increasing number of infectious adult mosquitoes are present in an area. If this situation is present, the risk to humans is high. Public communication about risk and avoidance of mosquito bites is essential, but at that stage adult mosquito control is the only way to reduce the number of infected adult mosquitoes. Thus, while it is considered a 7quot;last resort", using adulticide to quickly reduce the population of infected adult mosquitoes may be necessary on some occasions and is an accepted and recommended way to reduce risk of disease.

When predetermined action thresholds (discussed below) are met or exceeded, adulticide application may be implemented to reduce risks of WN virus transmission by decreasing the density of infected adult mosquitoes.

Metropolitan Code of Laws ¤10.32.180 governs public communication and opt-out provisions for mosquito spraying activities. Provision D of the ordinance states: "The department of health shall be relieved from any of the foregoing requirements of this section if the director of health determines that a documented threat to public health exists."

The policy of MPHD shall be to spray for adult mosquitoes ONLY when a documented threat to public health exists. Based on prior documented risk, the department expects spraying to be a rare event. The director of health will suspend the notification, residential opt out, and pedestrian protection requirements of the ordinance only if, in his scientific judgment, the threat to public health is serious enough and urgent enough to require it.

Public Notification

If a decision is made to spray, MPHD [make a good faith effort] will use its best efforts to fulfill the communication [expectations] requirements described in the Section 10.32.180 of the Metropolitan Code[, but]; opt-out provisions are [not] appropriate when [adulticide application is conducted to reduce] will use its best efforts a documented potential threat to public health is not serious enough to require urgent and immediate action, or blanket spraying of an entire targeted area to reduce adult mosquito population, as determined by the director of health. The department will maintain a list of residents who have chosen to exempt their properties from spraying, and may update it annually by contacting residents by phone or email. Residents who opt out of the spraying program will be granted a minimum buffer of 150 feet from their property lines, in which spraying will be discontinued, unless the director of health determines that it is necessary to suspend the opt out option; if the opt out is suspended, the department will use its best efforts to notify residents in advance, as required by Section 10.32.180(C) of the Metropolitan Code.

Steps will be taken to inform the public through local television, radio, print media, MPHD's website, emails to individuals who have requested individual notification and phone calls to homes in the area to be sprayed.

Signs will be posted [in areas to be sprayed indicating "Mosquito virus risk. Spray zone." and will include phone number and web site where additional information can be obtained] around the area to be sprayed in accordance with the requirements and specifications of Section 10.32.180(A) of the Metropolitan Code, unless the director of health determines that the urgency of the spraying schedule does not allow time for posting such signs, or that the area to be sprayed is so extensive as to make the posting of signs ineffective or too burdensome for the resources of the department.

Airborne pesticide spraying will be postponed to another day if there is an air quality alert on the date of the scheduled spraying, as provided in Section 10.32.180(C)(2) of the Metropolitan Code, unless the director of health determines that it is necessary to suspend this requirement.

Additional Public Relations Steps

For persons who choose to take steps to avoid exposure to the spray, several warning opportunities are in place. First, public communication outlined above will indicate the areas to be sprayed and the time of day when spraying is planned. Lead trucks will drive ahead of the spray trucks as an additional notification of spraying. Horns (before 8:00 PM), flashing lights, and noise from the spray equipment will also help to alert pedestrians. These measures should be sufficient to forewarn pedestrians who wish to reduce potential for exposure to pesticides by moving away from the path of the truck; however, past experience and observation by citizens indicate that these notifications frequently are not sufficient, and the pedestrian protection described below may be necessary.

ULV application applies <3 ounces of formula (2% anvil) per acre of land. The dose of pesticides for individuals who are outdoors in the swath of the ULV pesticide is low. This situation is not regulated by EPA and would be below thresholds for significant documented public health concern.

Because of potential for public concern[, reasonable efforts to avoid spraying groups of people will be taken. For example, spraying in public parks where large numbers of people have congregated will be delayed and the area will be sprayed at a later hour.] about the health effects of individual exposure to pesticide sprays, it will be the policy of the department of health that spray truck drivers or other staff will turn off the spray and verbally warn pedestrians or residents visible on streets or yards, and not resume spraying within approximately three hundred feet, in compliance with Section 10.32.180(C) of the Metropolitan Code. The director of health, after balancing the perceived threat of mosquito borne disease exposure against the perceived threat from individual exposure to pesticide sprays, may suspend this requirement if he decides that aerial application of insecticides over a large area, or blanket spraying from trucks within a targeted area is necessary because of the severity of the mosquito borne disease threat.