Mayor Craig A. Moe wishes to notify all citizens that the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), in cooperation with the Prince George’s County Health Department, will expand mosquito control services in multiple areas due to a public health concern over the potential for mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile Virus.
Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) truck-based spraying to control adult mosquitoes is planned for the evening of Sunday, September 26th after 9:00pm, in Laurel. Spraying will occur within a one-mile radius of the intersections of Harrison Drive and White Way and Doublerock Court and Belle Chasse Boulevard.
In the event of inclement weather, spraying will be rescheduled for the next available evening. Any existing spray exemptions in the area will be temporarily suspended.
Mosquito Control personnel will use a permethrin-based solution that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved for use in public health mosquito control programs without posing unreasonable risks to human health. However, out of an abundance of caution, the department recommends avoiding outdoor activities during spraying.
While not all mosquitoes carry diseases, MDA suggests that residents take precautions to minimize their exposure to mosquito bites. These measures include:
- Wear long, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing
- Wear insect repellents according to product labels
- Avoid mosquito infested areas during prime periods of activity (between dusk and dawn)
- Install, inspect, and repair window and door screens in homes and stables
- Regularly clean bird baths and bowls for pet food and water
- Remove or empty all water-holding containers
All residents are encouraged to follow the MDA’s Twitter feed @MdAgMosquito that will post unscheduled spray events and other timely information about mosquito control in the City of Laurel and the State of Maryland as a whole. Routine spray program schedules are available by Prince George’s County on the program’s website. Residents can also find information about the City’s mosquito control program on the City of Laurel’s website https://www.cityoflaurel.org/em/mosquito-control-program.
For more information, please call MDA’s Mosquito Control Program at 410-841-5870 or the City of Laurel’s Environmental Programs Manager, Michele Blair, at 301-725-5300 ext. 2203.
