ZIKA VIRUS RESPONSE PLAN

Maplewood Mosquito Control Resources and Township Services
May 2016

1.      Essex County Mosquito Control is the licensed governmental agency in Essex County to spray insecticide to kill mosquito adult and larvae. Essex County also utilizes mosquito traps in various locations in the Township where they catch, count and test mosquitoes for diseases such as West Nile Virus.   Essex County Mosquito Control also routinely sprays storm water catch basins.
If a resident wants to make a complaint about too many mosquitoes creating a serious nuisance, they should call both the Maplewood Health Department (973-762-8120 x4400 or healthofficer@twp.maplewood.nj.us ) and the Essex County Mosquito Control at 973-239-3366 x2480.    The Essex County Mosquito Control staff prefers that residents call them directly to make complaints. 
Whenever the County Mosquito Control determines that there are too many mosquitoes in a given area or that disease such as West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes, they will do area wide spraying.   The spraying is done late at night so as to minimize damage to non-target insects.   The spray residual is short timed and there is no danger to humans or pets.  The County Mosquito Control will also does back pack spraying in smaller areas if they determine a need.   The County also uses “dunks” to control larvae in large stagnant water ponds or stagnant swimming pools. 
On March 30, the Essex County Executive, Administrator, Public Works Director, the County Mosquito Control Director and Office of Emergency Management staff met with local health department personnel to discuss expected Zika virus control procedures.   I was very pleased with this meeting since it showed that Essex County officials are aware of and will be taking needed steps to reduce the danger of Zika virus.   

2.     On Friday May 6 the Township department heads will be meeting and will continue the discussion on steps that the Township will be taking to identify and remove mosquito breeding sites.   Maplewood Township staff such as Public Works, Fire, Police, Recreation and Health departments are in many parts of the Township during the course of their regular work and they will be alert for stagnant water that may become a breeding site.  

3.     Township staff will be inspecting for stagnant water sources.   Small stagnant water sources such as buckets, garbage cans, wheel barrows, bird baths and planters can be dumped immediately. Sources such as tires and stagnant water in swimming pools will be ordered to be abated.   Further legal actions such as “Imminent Health Hazard Notices” will be issued as needed.  In larger stagnant ponds or swimming pools mosquito larvacide “dunks” can be used.   Note that the two type of mosquitoes of concern do not breed in running water in pools, decorative ponds or streams.  

4.    Removal of tires that can breed mosquitoes will be emphasized.   This includes both commercial and private residential properties.   In many cases, tires can simply be placed inside a garage or covered with a tarp so that they do not collect stagnant water.   The Township also has an ongoing tire recycling program. 

5.    The Public Health Nursing staff and Health Officer are notified via the electronic disease reporting system of any Maplewood residents who are suspected or confirmed to have become Zika virus infected.    Resident who are infected will be advised by the Health Dept. of the Federal CDC recommendation that they take specific steps to avoid further mosquito bites for the 7-10 day period of possible communicability.
It can be expected that at least some Maplewood residents who travel to Zika epidemic areas will become infected.   These residents will be contacted by our Public Health Nurses.

6.     An important part of our public health prevention program will be repeated messages concerning stagnant water sources and prevention of mosquito bites.   These messages will be repeated in many forums, newsletters and email blasts other public information sites. 

7.      The Health Dept. staff will be monitoring reports from the NJ State Department of Health and the Federal Centers for Disease Control about any NJ, NY or Pa., middle Atlantic state or New England possible mosquito borne transmission of Zika virus.   In the event that there are suspected mosquito borne transmissions, our Health Education efforts will be increased.   Door-to door information will be delivered.  

8.    Another emphasis of health education will be for people to take personal actions to reduce mosquito bites.   This will include screens on windows, use of mosquito repellant long sleeves at night and other steps.  

9.    It should be recognized that even with full use of Township, County and resident resources, that not all mosquito breeding can be eliminated.  Mosquitoes also breed in wooded areas in small puddles on the ground and even in the water holding notches of trees.    Our task is to reduce as much as possible the transmission cycle of infected person to mosquito to uninfected person.   By doing this, the widespread epidemic that has occurred in more tropical countries will be greatly reduced.   

10.    Finally, there is still much information that will need to be discovered to fully fight off this virus.  

1.   Will there be a vaccine?  2.  Will there be a quick widely available test for Zika in people and mosquitoes?   3.  Will there be improved tests for pregnant women to ascertain the risk to their unborn child?  4.  What is the most effective yet safe insecticide to use?