Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Vector Control topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vector Mosquito Control reports lower mosquito counts, plans increased testing and aircraft capacity
Summary
Vector Mosquito Control told the committee that July and August operations saw fewer larviciding inspections and lower trap counts due to dry, hot weather. The contractor said it will increase testing with a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences partner and add aircraft capacity to respond more quickly if virus activity rises.
Vector Mosquito Control representatives updated the committee on July and August mosquito-abatement operations and future plans, saying dry weather reduced larviciding and trap counts but virus testing and response capacity will increase.
A Vector representative identified as Jim said the program used ground units frequently during July, conducted aerial spraying before July 4 and has flown several times since. He told the committee the bureau flew the north half of Jonesboro most recently and planned additional flights as weather permitted. “Mosquitoes have been populated mostly south of town,” Jim said.
Vector reported a decline in light-trap counts from about 5,500 to approximately 3,700, which staff attributed to dry conditions and heat. Larviciding inspections were lower year-over-year for the same reason. Service-request volume fell from roughly 20–25 calls per week before July 4 to about 4–5 per week at the time of the committee meeting.
Vector said it is partnering with Dr. Alsbrook at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to submit collected mosquito samples for testing for West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis and potential malaria-carrying Anopheles species. The contractor said it will begin targeted testing “probably next week” and expects more active testing through the end of the year if virus activity continues to rise. "If we do actually find that there is a lot of virus in the area, we will respond appropriately with abatement actions," the representative said.
On budget, a committee member noted roughly $241,000 in ARPA funding had been set aside for mosquito abatement in the 2025 budget; Vector said the season was winding down but described steps to prepare for the next season, including purchasing additional aircraft to be based in Cleveland, Mississippi, to allow faster aerial response if needed in future seasons.
The contractor also explained why extremely high temperatures limit spraying effectiveness: insecticide droplets require an inversion to remain on target, and at high heat the material can rise and not deposit where intended. Committee members asked about trap locations, and Vector said traps concentrate in areas south of the bypass such as Ashwood and Partridge and near rice fields (for example Shady Lane), where proximity to rice paddies increases mosquito presence.
Committee members thanked Vector representatives and had no further questions. No formal action or vote was taken on the report.
