If you live in unincorporated Jefferson County and have a problem with mosquitoes, the Jefferson County Health Department is willing to help.
“If you’re bothered by mosquitoes, we’re going to come there,” said Scott Darrough, environmental vector technician for the Health Department. “If you contact us, we are basically going to have you taken care of within 48 hours.”
Darrough said the Health Department will send someone to spray chemicals to prevent mosquitoes around the caller’s neighborhood, although the department won’t spray a resident’s yard.
“Generally what we will do then is (spray) a half-mile perimeter around that area,” he said.
Darrough said spraying to eliminate mosquitoes can also eliminate viruses, like the West Nile virus, which he said is his highest concern as a vector technician.
“Vector is the transmission of a pathogen from one organism to another,” he said.
Darrough said spraying to eliminate mosquitoes also helps dogs, because they can develop heartworm disease after a mosquito bite.
The department’s vector program started spraying for mosquitoes this season on May 26 and will stop in mid-October, Darrough said.
“When those frosts start coming in, we’re done,” he said. “The chemical will not come out of the fogger correctly if the temperature is below 50 degrees.”
The cities of De Soto, Hillsboro and Kimmswick pay the Health Department to spray for mosquitoes in those municipalities, reimbursing the agency for the cost of the chemicals and the time it takes him and a seasonal employee to do all the spraying, Darrough said.
He said Arnold, Crystal City, Festus and Pevely, however, have their own vector programs.
The Health Department also sprays the Jefferson County Parks Department’s properties, Darrough said.
“I have areas all around the county; we make the circuit,” he said. “Last night (July 6), we were down along the (Hwy.) 61/67 corridor in the various subdivisions over there.”
Darrough said the Health Department focuses its spraying efforts in areas with high populations.
“We try to look for areas with subdivisions that are more populated,” he said. “If somebody is out on a farm totally by themselves and they’re being eaten up by mosquitoes, we will certainly come there and treat them.”
Darrough said he also has been trapping and testing mosquitoes for viruses and there have been no positive tests this year.
“You will expect more of (the West Nile virus) toward the end of summer into the fall than you would now,” he said. “It’s not unheard of now.”
While the Health Department only sprays in unincorporated parts of the county, he is allowed to trap and test mosquitoes from anywhere in the county.
Darrough said if a mosquito sample tests positive for a virus in cities within the county, the Health Department will spray the area if the municipality does not have its own vector program.
The county’s vector program has a $117,00 budget this year, Darrough said.
He said the Health Department’s vector program, which started in 2002, has two sprayer trucks.
Darrough said anyone interested in having their neighborhood sprayed against mosquitoes may call him at 636-797-3737, ext.170.