FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Office of Communications
(617) 534-3127
communications@bphc.org
MOSQUITO SPRAYING TO BEGIN THIS MONTH IN BOSTON
Aerial spraying will take place in select neighborhoods in Hyde Park and West Roxbury
BOSTON – [April 19, 2019] – The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) would like to advise residents and community members in Hyde Park and West Roxbury of upcoming sprayings to help control mosquito populations in selected neighborhood areas. BPHC partners with the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project (SCMCP) to protect Boston residents from mosquito-borne disease transmission.
SCMCP will be conducting a helicopter application of the biological larvicide, Bti, to control mosquito larvae over large wetlands.
Wetlands currently being evaluated include the Fowl Meadow area of Hyde Park, the Hancock Woods area near VFW Parkway and Corey Street and wetlands near Millennium Park in West Roxbury.
The application will be conducted between April 22 and April 26.
The larvicide will be applied in a granular formulation by a helicopter flying low directly over the wetlands.
Residents do not need to take any special precautions for this application.
Mosquito species have different breeding habits, but most want to lay their eggs near water – usually in vegetation or in still water. To help prevent mosquitoes from breeding, BPHC advises residents to limit places around the home where standing water can collect. People should turn over unused flower pots, buckets, wheelbarrows and garbage cans; remove leaves and other debris that can clog gutters and trap water; dispose of or cover old tires; and cover swimming pools when not in use.
About Bti: The material to be applied, Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis), is a natural bacterium found in soil. The EPA classifies Bti as a relatively non-toxic pesticide. Bti is considered a target selective and environmentally compatible pesticide that affects mosquito larvae and a few closely related aquatic insects in the fly family. Once applied Bti stays suspended in water for 24 to 48 hours and then biodegrades as it settles to the bottom. The product name of the Bti is VectoBac GR (EPA Reg. #73049-486).
For further information contact the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project at 781-899-5730.
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About the Boston Public Health Commission
The Boston Public Health Commission, one of the country’s oldest health departments, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the Mayor of Boston.
Public service and access to quality health care are the cornerstones of our mission – to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The Commission’s more than 40 programs are grouped into six bureaus: Child, Adolescent & Family Health; Community Health Initiatives; Homeless Services; Infectious Disease; Recovery Services; and Emergency Medical Services.
Boston Public Health Commission, 1010 Massachusetts Ave, Second Floor, Boston, MA 02118