At Bannock County Mosquito Abatement, we conduct larval and adult mosquito surveillance, trapping and testing of adult mosquitos, and larval and adult mosquito control every mosquito season.  The main concern is monitoring for Mosquito-borne diseases and secondarily to reduce nuisance levels.

During the mosquito season (roughly May- October), personnel go out and trap adult mosquitos and test them for various viruses like West Nile and Zika. The results from the trapping tell us; Population density, Species and whether any Virus was detected.  Once these viruses are detected, we then concentrate our control efforts in those infested areas.

The District has a known list of sources that breed from year to year that we inspect and treat on a regular schedule.  With the public’s help, we are also made aware of other, new sources, that we inspect and/or treat.

Most of this work is done with a Drone or backpack sprayer, managed by our personnel.  By employing aerial equipment and mostly granular pesticides, we reduce the damage to vegetation and wildlife with as little contact as possible.

Some sources are proactively treated with time-released briquets to keep ahead of the mosquito breeding.  Depending on rainfall/snow, each year is different.  Some years we have more sources, other years, fewer sources. This makes it almost impossible to predict how bad any one year will be for mosquitoes.

Our emphasis is on catching the sources in the larval stages and treating them so they never reach the adult stage.  When our efforts are less than effective, we rely on Adulticide treatments with fogging equipment. When warranted, a truck equipped with a fogger is sent out at night to treat areas that have been identified as either having disease-carrying mosquitos or large adult mosquito populations.

Facts About ULV Fogging

• U.L.V. means Ultra Low Volume. Less than 1.75 ounces are used per acre with very small droplets.
• Every effort is made to limit fogging treatments to nighttime in order to limit exposure to humans, animals, insects, vegetation and fish.
• In most cases, the adult flying mosquito control material used is Permithrin. Permithrin is short lived and breaks down within a few hours and in sunlight.

• R.I.S.E. – Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment
• Center for Disease Control
• Animal Disease (Idaho Department of Agriculture)
• Debug The Myths
• DEET Online
• Insect Repellents: Use and Effectiveness (EPA)
• Pest Facts
• Reporting Dead Birds (Idaho Fish and Game)
• Southeastern Idaho Public Health
• Southeast Idaho Recreation
• West Nile Virus: Fight The Bite (Idaho Department of Health and Welfare)
• West Nile Virus in Idaho (Idaho Fish and Game)
• West Nile Virus Resource Guide (National Pesticide Information Center)
• Wild Birds That Typically Host the West Nile Virus (U.S. Geological Survey)
• American Mosquito Control Association
• Idaho Mosquito and Vector Control Association
• North West Mosquito & Vector Control
• Arbovirus Surveillance & Mosquito Control in Idaho

Mosquito Facts:

Although there are fourteen species of mosquitoes found in Bannock County, there is one species that is know to carry and transmit the West Nile Virus. This is the Culex species and the varieties found in Bannock County are Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens (shown below). These are the two species that we regularly test for West Nile Virus.

Culex tarsalis Mosquito

Culex Pipiens Mosquito

These mosquitoes love to breed in stagnant water.  They over-winter as eggs and West Nile Virus remains viable to be passed on when the mosquitoes hatch in the spring. Get more info on http://mosquitocontrolfacts.com/.

Did You Know?
There are over 3000 species of mosquitoes.  Fourteen species have been identified in Bannock County.

We work hard to keep our District residents as safe as possible from the threat of mosquitoes and West Nile Virus. It is a constant battle, but you can help!

West Nile Virus Information:

Visit Idaho’s West Nile Virus website

Level 1: Remote Risk of Human Infections 

• No positive surveillance indicators currently found in the county.
• Mosquitoes are starting to emerge in the spring.

Level 2: Low Risk of Human Infections 

• First evidence of virus activity has been detected in Bannock County or the neighboring counties. Non-human surveillance indicators (mosquitoes, birds, horses, etc.)

Level 3: Moderate to High Risk of Human Infections 

• Increase in WNV-positive surveillance indicators in Bannock County.
• Large or significant increase in Culex species mosquito populations.
• Large of significant increase in the number of infected mosquito pools (i.e. rising minimum infection rates.
• First human case detected in Bannock County or neighboring county.

Level 4: Human Infections In Progress 

• Multiple human cases occurring in Bannock County and the surrounding counties suggesting an epidemic level activity.
• Ongoing evidence of WNV in other surveillance indicators (birds, horses, mosquitoes, etc.).

Level 5: Human Infections In Decline

• Late season, mosquito activity declining.
• Rate of new human and animal case reports declining.

WHAT IS ZIKA VIRUS AND HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

Zika virus (ZIKV) was first discovered in 1947 in the Zika Forest of Uganda. Shortly thereafter, it was isolated from mosquitoes and then humans in 1968. ZIKV is a flavivirus similar to yellow fever, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile virus. Prior to 2007, it had only been detected in central Africa and throughout southeast Asia. However, in 2007, it was associated with a disease outbreak on Yap Island in the south Pacific, representing the first time it had spread outside of
Asia. From there, it spread to South America with human cases first reported in 2014. Zika is a virus transmitted by the bite of the mosquito to humans and from human to human. Only 1 in 5 people infected with Zika will show symptoms. Zika has been linked to microcephaly in babies who contracted the virus from their mothers while pregnant. The CDC is also investigating a correlation of Zika with Guillain-Barré syndrome, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system.

ZIKV is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. In the Americas, it has only been linked to transmission by Aedes aegypti. Ae. aegypti is also responsible for the transmission of dengue virus, yellow fever virus,
and chikungunya virus. Recently in Africa, the virus was detected in Aedes albopictus, or the Asian tiger mosquito; hence, it is likely that Ae. albopictus could vector the virus in the Americas.

ZIKV virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes

SYMPTOMS OF ZIKA INFECTION

• Typically, people with ZIKV infection begin showing symptoms with a mild headache.
• Within a day or two, a maculopapular rash may appear and can cover many parts of the body (arms, hands, face, and chest).
• Following the rash, people generally report continued fever, malaise, and body aches.
• Other symptoms can include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and dizziness.

TREATMENT OF ZIKA INFECTION

• Treatment includes rest and the use of acetaminophen to relieve fever.
• Patients should also be advised to drink plenty of fluids if diagnosed.
• If anyone has recently traveled to a known endemic area and are displaying any of the symptoms of Zika infection, they should consult their physician immediately.

District Maps:

Maps of Fogging Routes, Larvicide Treatment Sites and Trap Locations in the Bannock County Mosquito Abatement District.

Fogging Routes	Larvicide Treatment Sites
Mosquito Trap Locations	Bannock County Map

CLICK HERE to download a fillable service request or contact the Mosquito District at 208-236-7409.

Please email completed form to scotth@bannockcounty.us