Montgomery County is expanding its mosquito abatement program bringing all spraying and testing in-house for all four precincts.
Commissioners Robert Walker, Charlie Riley and Matt Gray agreed to provide funding to each add a staff member to Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack’s mosquito abatement team.
“At one time this was a more robust county program but funding dissipated,” Noack said.
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Noack recently expanded his facility for the mosquito abatement program with room to add additional staff. The facility now allows for mosquitos to be tested on-site for any mosquito-borne illnesses including West Nile virus.
“A lot of the equipment (for the facility) was purchased by state grants a year ago,” Noack said. “We need at least one mosquito person from each commissioner and we can take this thing fully county-wide.”
Walker and Riley said they received calls from the public regarding mosquitoes, including concerns about the spraying for the insects affecting other species.
“Part of our program is to make sure the spraying we are doing is effective and we minimize the impact on non-target species like butterflies and fireflies,” said Justin Fausek, director of mosquito abatement.
Noack launched his mosquito program in 2014 to help control the spread of West Nile virus.
Earlier this month the Montgomery County Public Health District confirmed the county’s first probable case of West Nile Virus for 2023.
According to the district, the woman is in her 60s and a resident of east Montgomery County.
In 2022, the county logged two cases of West Nile Virus.
West Nile virus can cause serious diseases and is commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. People typically develop symptoms between three and 14 days after they are bitten.
According to the CDC, approximately 80 percent of people who are infected will not show any symptoms at all, but there is no way to know in advance if someone will develop the illness. The most effective way to avoid West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites, the agency says. Avoid bites by using insect repellants, wearing protective clothing when outdoors and emptying any standing water.
