Mosquito abatement representative warns West Nile still present; asks residents to remove standing water

Carrie Seal, who identified herself as a member of the Mosquito Abatement Board, briefed the Washington Terrace council on regional mosquito surveillance and control efforts during public comment Nov. 19.

At the state conference she attended, Seal said officials reviewed recent West Nile findings and control strategies. She reported that in the county surveillance samples there were 29 mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile and that testing linked contamination to four animals (horses) in the county testing period she cited. Seal noted statewide case counts were described as larger and stressed the role of modern travel and mosquito survival through winter: mosquito eggs can remain viable across freezing seasons and global air travel increases the potential for disease movement.

Seal summarized abatement best practices shared at the conference and urged residents to eliminate standing water in containers, buckets, tires and other sites where larvae can survive the winter. She also noted that some of the program materials will be bilingual in areas served by tribal abatement operations and that local abatement boards are learning from large-scale programs elsewhere.

Council thanked Seal for attending the conference and reporting back; staff and the mayor acknowledged the public-health importance of mosquito surveillance and prevention measures.

No formal council action followed Seal’s remarks; her presentation was filed as public comment and the council expressed appreciation for the board’s work.