New Haven is feeding thousands of mosquitoes right now — we hope.
The city has placed 3,846 catch basins tablets of a larvicide called Altosid in catch basins around town in hopes of preventing citizens from getting the mosquito-born West Nile Virus, which can particularly harm the elderly. Now’s the time the mosquitos start munching, according to Paul Kowalski of the city’s health department.
It’s part of the city’s annual West Nile prevention campaign.
Another major part is distributing free insect repellent at senior centers. That’s beginning Friday. They city’s also distributing pamphlets to inform people about how to avoid the virus, which killed a New Haven senior some years back.
“The months of August and September are when mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus are most active. We urge all residents to protect themselves while outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn, wear long pants and long sleeve shirts while outdoors for long periods of time and consider the use of mosquito repellent,” Kowalski stated.
Here’s a copy of a bilingual pamphlet his office prepared with information about avoiding the virus.
