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Seasonal Program
(May-September Annually) The Tuscarawas County Health Department’s immediate priority is to prepare for, and take preventive measures, to reduce the potential of the West Nile Virus (WNV) and other mosquito-borne diseases. The Department emphasizes a coordinated Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to minimize the public health threat from mosquito-borne diseases, by utilizing proven sound mosquito control techniques recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). IPM utilizes a variety of control techniques and evaluation procedures that includes:
What the Health Department will do:
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Below are the Townships, Villages, and Municipalities that opted into TCHD's program
for 2024:
Auburn Township
Dover City
Dover Township
Fairfield Township
Goshen Township
Mill Township
Mineral City
Rush Township
Sugarcreek Township
Uhrichsville City
Village of Barnhill
Village of Bolivar
Village of Dennison
Village of Gnadenhutten
Village of Midvale
Village of Newcomerstown
Village of Parral
Village of Port Washington
Village of Roswell
Village of Sugarcreek
Village of Tuscarawas
Village of Zoar
Warren Township
Warwick Township
Wayne Township
York Township
Dover City
Dover Township
Fairfield Township
Goshen Township
Mill Township
Mineral City
Rush Township
Sugarcreek Township
Uhrichsville City
Village of Barnhill
Village of Bolivar
Village of Dennison
Village of Gnadenhutten
Village of Midvale
Village of Newcomerstown
Village of Parral
Village of Port Washington
Village of Roswell
Village of Sugarcreek
Village of Tuscarawas
Village of Zoar
Warren Township
Warwick Township
Wayne Township
York Township
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CHEMICAL CONTROL METHODS UTILIZED
The CDC advises that the use of chemical control methods should be based on established threshold levels (CDC, 2003). This means that specific risks must be present before any chemical control actions are taken. The most frequently utilized chemical treatments are larvicides and adulticides. Both larviciding and adulticiding are recognized by the CDC and other federal health organizations as essential components in mitigating public health risks associated with mosquito-borne illnesses. Due to the effectiveness of source reduction and larviciding in curbing mosquito breeding, these strategies will be prioritized over adulticiding. However, it is important to note that while source reduction and larviciding can significantly lower mosquito populations, they cannot completely eradicate adult mosquitoes. If surveillance indicates a rise in mosquito numbers or the detection of an arbovirus that threatens public health, adulticiding can effectively decrease these populations across a wide area in a short timeframe. While larviciding can help manage future mosquito generations, it does not impact the existing adult mosquitoes, which may already be infected or at risk of infection.
Larvicide
The Health Department plans to use EPA-approved larvicides, applying them as directed by the manufacturer. Larviciding plays a crucial role in managing mosquito populations by targeting the immature stages at breeding sites, preventing adult mosquitoes from spreading and keeping the risk of arbovirus transmission low. The team will implement a larviciding strategy alongside monitoring and reducing potential breeding sources to effectively manage mosquito larvae before they mature into biting adults. They will also check areas that are likely to collect water and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Larvicide efforts will include, but not be limited to, the following mosquito breeding sites on public property:
Adulticide (Spraying)
The Health Department will follow a standard procedure of using pesticides designed for adult mosquitoes only as a last resort to manage adult mosquito populations. They will utilize adulticiding chemicals that have been thoroughly tested, registered, and approved by the EPA. The decision to apply pesticides will align with the CDC’s guidance, which states that adulticiding should be implemented only when surveillance data shows a pressing need to quickly reduce adult mosquito numbers to mitigate the risk of West Nile Virus or other mosquito-borne illnesses. Adulticiding refers to the use of pesticides to eliminate adult mosquitoes. Effectively managing adult mosquito populations is a crucial aspect of any Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. The Department will implement chemical control strategies in line with the recommended thresholds from the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health, based on the analysis of larval or adult mosquito surveillance, as well as other relevant field data. These thresholds are:
The Health Department will use the following guidelines when applying adulticides:
The CDC advises that the use of chemical control methods should be based on established threshold levels (CDC, 2003). This means that specific risks must be present before any chemical control actions are taken. The most frequently utilized chemical treatments are larvicides and adulticides. Both larviciding and adulticiding are recognized by the CDC and other federal health organizations as essential components in mitigating public health risks associated with mosquito-borne illnesses. Due to the effectiveness of source reduction and larviciding in curbing mosquito breeding, these strategies will be prioritized over adulticiding. However, it is important to note that while source reduction and larviciding can significantly lower mosquito populations, they cannot completely eradicate adult mosquitoes. If surveillance indicates a rise in mosquito numbers or the detection of an arbovirus that threatens public health, adulticiding can effectively decrease these populations across a wide area in a short timeframe. While larviciding can help manage future mosquito generations, it does not impact the existing adult mosquitoes, which may already be infected or at risk of infection.
Larvicide
The Health Department plans to use EPA-approved larvicides, applying them as directed by the manufacturer. Larviciding plays a crucial role in managing mosquito populations by targeting the immature stages at breeding sites, preventing adult mosquitoes from spreading and keeping the risk of arbovirus transmission low. The team will implement a larviciding strategy alongside monitoring and reducing potential breeding sources to effectively manage mosquito larvae before they mature into biting adults. They will also check areas that are likely to collect water and serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Larvicide efforts will include, but not be limited to, the following mosquito breeding sites on public property:
- Curb and gutter;
- Tree-holes and rock-pools;
- Vegetated edges of lakes and creeks;
- Culverts, catch basins, ornamental fountains, pools; and
- Manhole covers, storm water inlets, and discharge areas.
Adulticide (Spraying)
The Health Department will follow a standard procedure of using pesticides designed for adult mosquitoes only as a last resort to manage adult mosquito populations. They will utilize adulticiding chemicals that have been thoroughly tested, registered, and approved by the EPA. The decision to apply pesticides will align with the CDC’s guidance, which states that adulticiding should be implemented only when surveillance data shows a pressing need to quickly reduce adult mosquito numbers to mitigate the risk of West Nile Virus or other mosquito-borne illnesses. Adulticiding refers to the use of pesticides to eliminate adult mosquitoes. Effectively managing adult mosquito populations is a crucial aspect of any Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. The Department will implement chemical control strategies in line with the recommended thresholds from the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health, based on the analysis of larval or adult mosquito surveillance, as well as other relevant field data. These thresholds are:
- When a particular trap location has over 200 female mosquitoes in one night of trapping;
- When a mosquito pool (one trap’s catch of mosquitoes) has tested positive for WNV
- When the Tuscarawas County Health Department or the Ohio Department of Health reports a suspected human case of WNV or other mosquito borne illness in the County
- When the Tuscarawas County Health Department or the Ohio Department of Health reports a confirmed human case of WNV or other mosquito borne illness in the County
- When the Tuscarawas County Health Department is notified of a confirmed equine case of WNV in the County
The Health Department will use the following guidelines when applying adulticides:
- Spraying shall be conducted between dusk and dawn;
- Notify, the citizens when an area is being sprayed;
- When weather conditions are inappropriate for spraying a new notification must be issued;
- Publish spraying area(s) information on the Health Department’s website and social media pages;
- In the case of an arbovirus event, the location of the positive site shall be sprayed a minimum of two times;
- Do not spray if the wind speed is below 1 MPH, or exceeds 10 MPH;
- Do not apply pesticides just before or during a rain even
Additional Information: