The Anne Arundel County Health Department and the Maryland Department of Agriculture are deploying truck-mounted Ultra-Low Volume sprayers to control adult mosquito populations amid concerns about mosquito-borne illnesses in the region, the state agency said.
Residents in Crofton’s Rieddel Road and Tilghman Drive areas should prepare for mosquito spraying after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The MDA recommends avoiding outdoor activities during spraying.
Sprays are conducted based on thresholds, according to Jessica Hacket, the MDA’s communications director. The medical threshold is defined as having two positive traps in a single location. The Crofton location has met or surpassed that threshold, indicating an elevated threat based on the positive trap findings.
“The risk varies from year to year. It seems to be elevated this year, but no human disease has been detected this summer,” Hackett said. “To that extent, MDA encourages people to avoid mosquitoes.”
Members of the state’s Mosquito Control Program will use a permethrin-based solution, a synthetic chemical insecticide that mimics the action of pyrethrins, natural compounds derived from chrysanthemum flowers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the solution for use in public health mosquito control programs, deeming it safe for human health.
The state agriculture department recommends residents take precautions to minimize their exposure to mosquito bites. They include applying insect repellent; wearing long, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing; and avoiding mosquito-infested areas between dusk and dawn.
Spraying will be rescheduled for the next evening in the event of adverse weather, according to the news release. The forecast for Tuesday is for sunny skies, with a high of 76 degrees.
Maryland residents are encouraged to follow the MDA’s Facebook Page to see unscheduled spray events and other information about mosquito control.
