By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — After finding as many as 1,800 mosquitoes a week in special traps in mid-May, the Cattaraugus County Health Department recommended aerial spraying of larvicide to stop larvae from becoming adult mosquitoes.
That larvicide spraying in mid-June dramatically cut the number of adult mosquitoes, but the number of larvae in breeding pools is on the rise again and a second application of larvicide may be needed in the coming weeks.
County lawmakers agreed last month to spend around $60,000 to spray larvicide over 3,463 acres of wetlands to help cut down on the number of mosquito larvae that would otherwise grow into biting adult mosquitoes.
Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins told the Board of Health Thursday that after the aerial spraying of larvicide June 15-17, the number of adults trapped during the following week dropped from 1,200 to around 200.
The trouble is that the number of mosquito larvae is on the rise again due to all the wet weather of the past month, Watkins said.
“We are starting to see an increase in the number of adult mosquitoes,” Watkins said. “We may have to consider going back and doing another spraying. We’ll continue the surveillance and continue to listen to residents.”
The Health Department has student interns who collect mosquitoes in traps and identify them as well as dip for mosquito larvae in wetland breeding pools.
While the number of adult mosquitoes tapered off after the larvicide was sprayed in wetland areas of the town and city of Olean and Salamanca as well as the towns of Portville, Allegany, Hinsdale, Carrollton and Great Valley, they are on the rise again, Watkins said.
Two of the viruses spread by mosquitoes are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus. People exhibit symptoms of EEE — headaches, high fever and chills — in four to 10 days. People over age 50 and under 15 are at greater risk. There is a risk of death from EEE.
West Nile virus symptoms are similar to EEE and exhibit themselves in three to 14 days. It can also result in serious illness and death.
The last time EEE was found in Cattaraugus County was in 2019 in a horse. In 2021, West Nile virus was discovered in the county. There is a vaccine for horses for both EEE and West Nile virus, but none for humans.
Watkins urged residents to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when mosquitoes are most active, between dusk and dawn. In addition, he suggested people use an insect repellent containing DEET and to empty any containers in their yards that can hold water where female mosquitoes can lay eggs.
IN OTHER ACTION, board members learned that influenza and Covid vaccines will be adjusted for 2024-25 from the 2023-24 vaccines in a bid to make them more effective.
The 2023-24 influenza vaccine was 59% to 67% effective for ages 6 months to 17 years-old. For adults age 18-64, the vaccine was 33% to 49% effective and in adults 65 and older, the vaccine was 41% to 51% effective.
Watkins said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will move away from the quad-valent vaccine to a tri-valent vaccine targeting H1Ni and INfluenza A and B. The CDC, he said, recommends everyone 6 months and older get the vaccine.
The CDC found the 2021-22 influenza vaccine to be 36% effective, the 2022-23 vaccine 54% effective and 2023-24 42% effective.
Board member Dr. Zahid Cohan said the flu vaccine “is not good enough. We should do better.”
Watkins said the vaccine reduces an individual’s choice of being hospitalized” if they contract an influenza.
“If you can cut it by 50%, it’s better than not doing it,” said Dr. Gilbert Witte, the health department medical director.
Suggested.
