Saratoga News
News
Communities in a fog, and it should rid area of pests
By Shannon Burkey
The Santa Clara County Vector Control District will be fogging parts of Saratoga, Los Gatos, Campbell and San Jose on Aug. 1 in an effort to reduce the population of mosquitoes that may be carrying the West Nile Virus.
On July 23, vector control collected several adult mosquitoes from Jack Fisher Park in Campbell that tested positive for the virus, and to date 36 birds, four groups of mosquitoes and one squirrel have tested positive for the virus in Santa Clara County. Five of those birds and one group of mosquitoes were discovered in Saratoga.
"The area we fog is decided by the number of dead birds and mosquitoes that have tested positive in that area," said Kriss Costa, the district's community resource specialist. "If we find three West Nile-positive birds or mosquito groups within a 1mile radius and within a two-week period of each other, we are on alert."
The fogging, which will cover a 21Ž2-mile radius and more than 6,000 parcels, will begin at 11 p.m. and last until about 2:30 a.m.
During the fogging process, county workers will mist the area with Pyrenone 25-5, an insecticide derived from chrysanthemums that affects the nervous system of insects.
According to Russ Parman, vector control assistant manager, humans and pets rapidly metabolize Pyrenone 25-5 and it is not harmful.
"This is the same product sold over the counter in flea shampoos and shampoos for head lice," Parman said.
The fog, which will come from a mounted fogging unit on a truck, will consist of micron-sized droplets of the insecticide that will spread about 300 feet. Typically less than 1 ounce of Pyrenone 25-5 per acre is dispensed.
"We use this insecticide because it is the most effective in the lowest dosage and there is no residual effect--as soon as the sun comes up or it starts to get warm, it dissipates," Costa said.
In order for the fogging to be the most effective, winds must be between 2 and 5 miles per hour.
"If it's a still night, we can't do it, and if the winds are over 10 miles per hour we can't do it," Costa said. "A warm evening with a slight breeze is what we like to have--if it's warm, there are even more mosquitoes out."
There are no specific precautions residents need to take beforehand, but Costa said some people prefer to close their windows and turn off their air conditioners because of the smell of the Pyrenone 25-5. Because the insecticide is being dispersed in such a low dose, it will not affect plant life, she added.
With possibly a few months of West Nile season still left, the county is offering several tips for residents to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
"When going outdoors, people should use insect repellent just like they would sunscreen," Costa said. "We know we have infected mosquitoes. We know we have West Nile. We're really out there trying to find those mosquitoes that are infected, but we need people to help by taking precautions."
Costa added that it is also important for residents to take a few minutes each day to dump any standing water on their property and to report any bodies of water in their area that could be a possible mosquito breeding ground, such as green pools and spas.
Residents can also obtain mosquito fish--which eat the mosquito eggs and larvae--from vector control for any water source on their property, such as ponds, troughs and fountains.
For more information on the fogging or to view a map of the area to be fogged, visit www.sccvector.org.
