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News & Information

Office of Mosquito Control Continues to Protect Public Health During Coronavirus Outbreak

Release Date: May 29, 2020

Sussex County Office of Mosquito Control Continues to Protect Public Health During Coronavirus Outbreak

mosquito trap
Checking Mosquito Traps
(Newton, NJ) The current lockdowns in place to curtail spread of coronavirus will not prevent the performance of essential mosquito control activities in Sussex County. The Sussex County Office of Mosquito Control will continue its mission to protect the health, safety and welfare of Sussex County residents under modified operations and processes for the benefit of the public and mosquito staff. Currently the Office will remain open under normal operating hours, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents who have mosquito related questions and/or complaints are encouraged to contact the Office of Mosquito Control by calling 973-940-5225, emailing mosquito@sussex.nj.us, or visiting the website at www.sussex.nj.us/mosquito. Inspections of private property for the abatement of artificial/man-made containers will be suspended until further notice. Also door hangers will not be left on complainants' doors to indicate inspector findings. Residents can call 973-940-5225 for verbal reports of inspector findings. All other inspection and control activities, such as aerial and truck mounted spray applications, and disease surveillance will continue for the season as in previous years.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is still a great concern in our community, the Office of Mosquito Control wants to remind residents not to lose sight of the fact that other debilitating and potentially fatal diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, such as West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Jamestown Canyon virus, are also of concern in the county. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronavirus cannot be transmitted by mosquitoes.

With the suspended service of the abatement of man-made habitats, it is strongly recommended that residents play a critical role in the elimination of standing water on private property. Please take the time to check your yard and empty standing water sources to avoid making a place for mosquitoes to develop. Small amounts of stagnant water provide an ideal location for mosquitoes to lay their eggs.

  • Clean roof gutters at least annually.
  • Remove any unnecessary containers from the property (flower pots/trays, tires, toys, boats and buckets).
  • Drain and rinse birdbaths twice a week.
  • Aerate and/or stock ornamental ponds with fish.
  • Configure tarps to drain any rainwater.
  • Close pools when not in use; pool covers can collect rainwater.

Sussex County residents are also encouraged to protect themselves from mosquitoes and the diseases that they carry by remaining indoors at dusk and dawn, wearing long sleeves and pants, and applying EPA-registered repellents according to label directions.

Protect Yourself From Mosquito-Borne Diseases! Dump, Drain, and Defend!

For more information on how to protect yourself, your home or the products used by the Office of Mosquito Control, please call 973-940-5225 or visit www.sussex.nj.us/mosquito.


Mosquito Control and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Awareness

Release Date: September 05, 2019

(Newton, NJ) September is here and fall is just around the corner, but the Sussex County Division of Health, Office of Mosquito Control would like to remind residents that mosquitos are still quite active this time of year. The Office of Mosquito Control urges Sussex County residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes and the diseases that they carry by reducing mosquito habitats around their yards, remaining indoors at dusk and dawn, wearing long sleeves and pants, and applying EPA-registered repellents.

Under the right environmental conditions, mosquitoes can develop and emerge as adults in as little as one week becoming quite a nuisance. More importantly, some species of adult mosquitoes can carry and transmit diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

The Sussex County Division of Health, Office of Mosquito Control is investigating three positive EEE samples of adult mosquitoes in three different locations in Sussex County. This is the first time EEE has been reported in Sussex County, NJ. The Sussex County Office of Mosquito Control will continue to trap and test adult mosquitoes for disease in addition to conducting ultra-low-volume truck applications within the immediate areas of known disease prevalence.

Small amounts of stagnant water provide an ideal location for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Residents can play a primary role in mosquito control by eliminating habitats where mosquitoes breed by following these tips:

  • Clean roof gutters at least annually.
  • Remove any unnecessary containers from the property (flower pots/trays, tires, toys, boats, buckets).
  • Drain and rinse birdbaths twice a week.
  • Aerate and/or stock ornamental ponds with fish.
  • Configure tarps to drain any rainwater.
  • Close pools when not in use; pool covers can collect rainwater and provide a habitat for mosquitoes.

Protect Yourself From Mosquito-Borne Diseases! Dump, Drain, and Defend!

For more information on how to protect yourself, your home or the products used by the Office of Mosquito Control, please call 973-940-5225 or visit www.sussex.nj.us/mosquito.

For additional information about Eastern Equine Encephalitis, please visit the New Jersey Department of Health at https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/topics/eee.shtml external link and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/EasternEquineEncephalitis/ external link. Information about West Nile virus can be obtained by visiting https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/topics/westnile.shtml external link and https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/ external link.


Release Date: May 15, 2019

Image of Flying Mosquito
Residents Play an Important Role in Mosquito Control

(Hamburg, NJ) The Sussex County Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health, Office of Mosquito Control is urging Sussex County residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes and the diseases that they carry by reducing mosquito habitats around their yards. Under the right environmental conditions, mosquitoes can develop and emerge as adults in as little as one week becoming quite a nuisance. More importantly, some species of adult mosquitoes can carry and transmit diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

Sussex County Freeholder Director Herbert Yardley would like residents to know that "all mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle. Source reduction, or the elimination of mosquito larval habitat, is the first step in an integrated pest management program for mosquitoes and is the most effective method of preventing mosquito populations and the spread of disease. Please do your part by eliminating standing water around your homes to help protect you and your community from mosquito borne diseases."

Due to the recent rainfall and flooding, there may be more mosquito-breeding habitats found in private yards this year. Small amounts of stagnant water provide an ideal location for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. Residents can play a primary role in mosquito control by eliminating habitats where mosquitoes breed by following these tips:

  • Clean roof gutters at least annually.
  • Remove any unnecessary containers from the property (flower pots/trays, tires, toys, boats, buckets).
  • Drain and rinse birdbaths twice a week.
  • Aerate and/or stock ornamental ponds with fish.
  • Configure tarps to drain any rainwater.
  • Close pools when not in use; pool covers can collect rainwater and provide a habitat for mosquitoes.

Protect Yourself From Mosquito-Borne Diseases! Dump, Drain, and Defend!

For more information on how to protect yourself, your home, or about the products used by the Office of Mosquito Control, please call 973-940-5225 or visit www.sussex.nj.us/mosquito.


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