County health officials: Aerial spraying for mosquito larvae planned for May 11

Suffolk County plans aerial larvicide applications tomorrow, May 11 at certain salt marshes across the county, including locations in the towns of Riverhead and Southold.

The county DPW vector control division will conduct low altitude, large droplet liquid application of Vectobac 12AS. The application will take place sometime between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., according to a press release issued by the county health department this afternoon. Should weather conditions prevent completion of the work, it will be continued on the next suitable day, according to the release.

Salt marshes in the following locations will be treated: Indian Island, in the Town of Riverhead; Great Hog Neck in the Town of Southold. No applications are planned for the Riverside-Flanders area in Southampton Town.

This treatment will be the first of 2016 season.

The products used by vector control are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and are applied in accordance with the required state and federal permits, the county health department said.

No precautions are recommended to prepare for this spraying, as the helicopter will be flying at a very low level over marsh areas and taking other precautions to control drift into inhabited areas. Human exposure from this operation is unlikely and the products involved have no significant human toxicity.

Mosquitoes can carry disease. Residents are asked to please take a minute to review how you can help Suffolk County to reduce mosquitoes around your home:

• Mosquitoes need standing water to reproduce, check your yard at least weekly for standing water in containers and dump the water!
• Dispose of old tarps, cans, containers, buckets and similar water-holding containers;
• Discard old tires on your property as tires are a major mosquito breeding source;
• Drill water drainage holes in the bottom of garbage pails;
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly, check and clean clogged gutters on a regular basis;Turn over or dump water from plastic kiddie pools, toys and wheelbarrows when not in use;
• Change the water in birdbaths at least weekly;
• Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of backyard ponds, add fish and circulate the water;
• Keep shrubs and grass trimmed so adult mosquitoes will not rest in your yard;
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs;
• Drain water from pool covers often.

To avoid mosquito bites, residents are advised to:

• Minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn in mosquito prone areas;
• Wear shoes and socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when mosquitoes are active;
• Use mosquito repellent when outdoors, following label directions carefully;
• Make sure all windows and doors have screens, and that all screens are in good repair.

For current and future notices and/or further information: Suffolk County Division of Vector Control 631-852-4270.