Mosquito Spraying Slated for Thursday Evening in Haddon Township

Seven towns in the county, including portions of Haddon Township, are slated for mosquito spraying Thursday evening as part of the Camden County Mosquito Commission's ongoing fight against the bloodsucking pests.

“Our county mosquito commission works with the Public Health Environmental Laboratories in Trenton to verify the presence of West Nile Virus in their samples,” said Freeholder Jeffrey Nash, liaison to the Camden County Mosquito Commission, in a release from the county. “When a pool tests positive for West Nile Virus, the mosquito commission returns within 24 hours to spray the area. The sprayings take place in the evening when the mosquitoes are most active.”

While the spray isn't harmful to humans or pets, you should avoid direct contact if you have respiratory concerns or are sensitive to irritants.

On Thursday night's schedule, weather permitting, are the following areas:

Camden: Fairview Street, MacArthur Drive, Lakeshore Drive, Arnold Street, South 12th Street, Patton Street, Wainwright Street and Denfield Street.

Cherry Hill: Winding Way, Gere Terrace, School Lane, Rose Lane, Oxford Street, Hart Road, Park Road, Carlton Road, Logan Drive, Greenvale Road, Gardner Road, Courtland Road, Pearlcroft Road, Old Carriage Road and Wayside Drive.

Bellmawr: 6th Avenue, 5th Avenue, 4th Avenue, 3rd Avenue, 2nd Avenue, 1st Avenue, East Browning Road, Devon Avenue, North Bellmawr Avenue and North Cedar Avenue.

Haddon Township: Guilford Avenue, Morgan Avenue, Tatem Avenue, Shady Lane, Burrwood Avenue, Laurel Avenue and Conger Avenue.

Runnemede: Rose Avenue, Elm Avenue and the baseball fields.

Somerdale: Chatham Road, Eden Lane, Bentley Lane, Bentley Court, Roberts Drive, Orchard Avenue, Upton Way, West Wood Avenue, West Preston Avenue, Terrace Avenue and Sterling High School's football field/

Winslow Township: Fripps Old Road, Hillside Court, Cedar Hill Drive and Woodside Lane.

Residents should check their property for any object that holds water for more than a few days. All pre-adult mosquito stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) must be in stagnant water in order to develop into adult mosquitoes.

Swimming pools are a common problem. All pools must be checked and maintained to keep them mosquito-free. Swimming pools can breed mosquitoes within days after you stop adding chlorine or other disinfectant. Pool covers can catch rainwater and become a mosquito development site. Add a little chlorine to kill mosquitoes.

Personal protection is strongly urged if you are outside when mosquitoes may be active—generally dawn and dusk. Insect repellents containing between 10-35 percent DEET are very effective, however, be sure to follow the label directions and take extra precautions with children and infants.

The Camden County Mosquito Commission suggests checking around your yard for mosquito breeding containers. The following is a checklist of tips to help eliminate mosquito breeding:

• Dispose of unnecessary containers that hold water. Containers you wish to save turn upside down or put holes in the bottom so all water drains out.
• Lift up flowerpots and dump the water from the dish underneath every week.
• Stock fish or add mosquito larvicide to ornamental ponds.
• Change water in bird baths, fountains, and animal troughs weekly.
• Screen vents to septic and other water tanks.
• Store small boats upside down and large boats so they drain. If covered, keep the tarp tight so water does not pool on top of the tarp.
• Do not dump leaves or grass clippings into a catch basin or streams.
• Do not allow water to collect on sagging tarps or awnings.
• Do not allow trashcan lids to fill with water.
• Check downspouts that are able to hold enough water to allow mosquito larvae to mature.

For more information, or to report a problem, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at 856-566-2945 or skeeters@camdencounty.com.