‘Think like a mosquito’ officials say as bug spraying trucks return to Richland County
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Richland County officials are taking steps to ensure another virus does not become an issue.
Trucks spraying mosquitoes have hit area roads outside of Columbia, Richland County officials said Wednesday in a news release.
Crews from Vector Control have begun the annual campaign to locate and control mosquito populations in the county, according to the release.
Both larval breeding sites and adult mosquitoes are being sprayed in urban areas of the county, as well as in densely populated rural locations, Richland County officials said.
The trucks will primarily be spraying between midnight and dawn, but it is possible they could be out as early as dusk, according to the release.
“When a spray truck is nearby, residents should remain indoors to allow the driver to thoroughly cover the area,” officials said in the release.
One of the main missions of the spraying is to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. It is not a measure to limit COVID-19.
“To date, there is no evidence that mosquitoes can transmit the coronavirus, or COVID-19,” officials said.
But West Nile Virus remains a concern. In July 2019, cases of the disease primarily transmitted by mosquitoes were found in the Forest Acres and St. Andrews areas.
In 2018, there were multiple reports of West Nile Virus across South Carolina, and it caused at least one death, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
There are steps residents can take to reduce the number of mosquitoes around their homes.
“Try to think like a mosquito,” Vector Control manager Tammy Brewer said in the release. “Do a hunt throughout your property. If there is water that a mosquito can access, then she can lay eggs and breed more mosquitoes.”
One of the main ways of reducing the number of mosquitoes in an area is to limit their exposure to standing water, according to the release.
“Tires, cans, bottles, flower pots and the like can be breeding grounds for the pests,” officials said. Those items should be emptied, overturned or removed if possible, according to the release.
Richland County residents with questions or problems with mosquitoes can reach Vector Control at 803-929-6000. Officials said this also includes beekeepers and anyone allergic to resmethrin, prallethrin, sumithrin and permethrin.
Residents inside Columbia city limits should call 803-545-4229.
Lexington County residents should call 803-785-8440, while Batesburg-Leesville resident should call the town hall at 803-532-4601.
Stop the spread
Vector Control urges the following measures to help prevent mosquitoes from spreading:
▪ Use EPA-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon or eucalyptus, according to label instructions
▪ Clear drainage ditches of debris and weeds
▪ Pack tree holes with sand
▪ Clean clogged roof gutters
▪ Change the water in pet dishes, birdbaths and containers used to root plants at least weekly
▪ Maintain swimming pools properly
▪ Keep boats overturned, drained or covered, and be sure covers do not collect water
▪ Stock ornamental ponds (water gardens) with top-feeding minnows
▪ Ensure rain barrels have screens to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the collected water, and don’t allow water to linger in rain barrels
SOURCE: Richland County Public Information Office
