City of Naperville’s Mosquito Control Program Underway

As summer approaches, the City of Naperville’s mosquito abatement program is well underway. The City uses larval control, mosquito monitoring and targeted spraying to control the mosquito population. Residents can take several precautions residents to avoid mosquito bites and reduce the number of mosquitoes around their homes.

To help control the mosquito population in Naperville, City crews inspect for and remove standing water wherever possible and treat ponds, marsh areas and catch basins throughout the City to target the mosquito in the larval stage. The City continuously monitors and tests its 11 mosquito traps each week to evaluate the effectiveness of larval control, provide early warnings when the adult populations are rising and test for West Nile Virus. When necessary, the City uses spraying to control the adult mosquito population. In these cases, the City uses the safest chemicals available in very low volumes and sprays only as needed. All products used by our program are registered for use in residential areas by the EPA and are recommended by the EPA and CDC to mitigate outbreaks of mosquito-borne disease.

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people infected with the West Nile Virus have no symptoms or experience very mild symptoms three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Mild symptoms include a fever, headache and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the torso of the body and swollen lymph glands.  Less than one percent of infected people with West Nile Virus will develop severe symptoms. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:

• Reduce mosquito breeding sites: Eliminate stagnant water in birdbaths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.
• Wear protective clothing: Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing is best.
• Apply repellent: Use mosquito repellent containing 25 percent to 35 percent DEET when it is necessary to be outdoors, applied sparingly to skin or clothing, as indicated on the repellent label. Consult a physician before using repellents on young children.
• Reduce mosquito hiding places: Check for and repair any tears in residential screens and keep your yard well-maintained by cutting grass short and trimming shrubbery to remove mosquito hiding spots.

 For more information, visit www.naperville.il.us/mosquitocontrol.

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 150,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.