The City of Albuquerque has deployed an Environmental Health Department crew to Ruidoso to assist with mosquito control and surveillance efforts following the community’s recent devastating flooding.
The Urban Biology Division team left for Ruidoso Tuesday to conduct mosquito monitoring and assess the potential for disease transmission as standing water from the unprecedented flooding creates prime breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Ruidoso and our teams are at the ready to support our neighbors,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “Mosquitos aren’t just a nuisance, they can be a public health hazard after a disaster like this. We will continue to work in close collaboration with Ruidoso emergency management to ensure we support their efforts to rebuild their community.”
The specialized field team has been on standby since late Friday, ready to respond to the emerging public health threat. Their mission involves accessing areas with extensive ponding water to sample for mosquito larvae and estimate breeding potential over the coming weeks.
The team will also deploy surveillance traps to determine whether local mosquitoes pose a risk of transmitting diseases such as West Nile virus. This monitoring will help assess the intensity of mosquito activity and inform recommendations for pest control measures.
“Our mission will be to survey and assess the extent of standing water in order to determine the potential impact on mosquito abundance,” said Dr. Mark DiMenna, Deputy Director of the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. “Mosquito numbers can explode after flooding events, adding risk of disease transmission and nuisance to an already challenging situation.”
To help residents protect themselves from mosquito-borne illness, health officials recommend several precautionary measures:
Residents should use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing when outdoors, particularly products containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 for skin application, and permethrin for clothing treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has proven these ingredients effective against mosquitoes.
Officials also advise limiting outdoor activities during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active and eliminating water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay eggs, such as old tires, birdbaths, wading pools and pet water bowls.
For flood irrigation, water should not be allowed to stand for more than a few days. Residents should keep windows and doors closed if they lack screens, or ensure that existing screens fit tightly without holes.