Anoka County hears mosquito-control briefing as West Nile cases rose last year
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Summary
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District officials told the Anoka County Board that the seven-county metro recorded 51 West Nile cases in 2025 (about double the year before), described steps to expand surveillance and reduce mosquito habitat, and announced districtwide tire-recycling events for residents.
At its April 14, 2026 meeting, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District on efforts to curb disease-carrying mosquitoes and on tools residents can use to track local activity.
The district’s executive director, Daniel Huff, told the board the seven-county metro recorded 51 West Nile virus cases last year — about twice the previous year — and that more than 20 people were hospitalized with neuroinvasive disease. "Last year, in the district, in the 7 County metro area, we had 51 cases of West Nile virus. That is twice what we had the year before," Huff said, adding there were three fatalities last year, including one in Anoka County.
Why it matters: higher disease counts can prompt increased targeted control measures and local outreach; the district said its primary emphasis is preventing human illness through surveillance and larval control rather than broad-area adult spraying.
Alex Carlson, the district’s public affairs manager, described the MMCD’s integrated pest-management approach and its history. "We've been around since 1958. We were established, as a state statute, and we're governed by county commissioners," Carlson said, summarizing the program’s focus on larval surveillance and species identification in the lab, then targeted treatments in wetlands and other breeding sites.
Program changes and capacity: Carlson said the district relies on larval-control materials (dry granules) that target mosquito larvae and are designed to dissipate in the water, limiting risk to fish, pollinators and other non-target species. The district used eight drones in 2025 and will add one more to reach hard-to-access sites; helicopters continue to be used for some applications. Huff also said technicians will wear new safety vests labeled "Mosquito Control" this season to make staff easier for residents to identify.
Source reduction and community options: The district reported its tire-recycling program expanded from about 1,300 tires in 2024 to nearly 6,000 in 2025, which strained staff capacity. To address that demand, the MMCD will host two tire-recycling events per county each year (one in spring and one in fall) where Anoka County residents can bring up to 10 tires per household at no cost. Carlson said dates would be posted on the district’s website and a sign-up form would be available.
Public tools and guidance: Officials pointed commissioners to an interactive online map and a 40-tip resident guide posted on the district website to help residents identify hotspots and report high mosquito activity. Carlson said staff submit field data in real time to the public maps during the summer season.
Board reaction and follow-up: Commissioners praised the district’s public-facing tools and outreach; several said they rely on the maps to advise constituents planning outdoor events. No board action was required; MMCD staff said they would continue surveillance and report as conditions warrant.
The board’s presentation closed with a reminder from MMCD to take tick precautions in May and June as nymph ticks reemerge and a request for the public to report unusual mosquito or tick activity via the district’s website.
