2016 - 2017 President Erik Foster
Midland County Mosquito Control

 

October, 2016

The first frosts of the season will soon be upon us and Michigan’s mosquito season is slowly coming to an end. This is good news for our public health partners who have been diligently collecting mosquitoes for West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance, and investigating reported cases of disease. Unfortunately, the reporting and testing of travelers for Zika virus will continue through the colder months as residents plan their vacations away from the cold, and head to destinations in the Caribbean. Next year, many more health departments will be conducting mosquito surveillance for the vectors of Zika virus, and the MMCA will be involved in training staff to trap and identify mosquitoes. Given the increasing reports of Aedes albopictus activity in the region, it’s good timing for increased mosquito collections. I’d like to thank the current MMCA board and the previous boards for helping to build strong relationships between mosquito control and public health.

We had a very warm and dry beginning to the season, and since those are important factors in influencing WNV in the Midwest, it started out looking like it might be another banner year for WNV activity. Luckily the weather cooperated, and we began to see some much needed precipitation across the region. However, arboviruses are always a risk in Michigan in the summer, and there was still substantial disease activity in animals and people. To date, 37 cases of WNV and 2 fatalities have been reported from 11 counties, and two cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus were reported from 2 counties. A total of 51 positive mosquito pools were detected from six southern Michigan counties this year, and wildlife cases were reported from throughout the Lower and Upper Peninsulas. While Zika is the current “disease du jour,” it is important to remind residents that there is risk for arboviruses every year in Michigan.

The Annual MMCA 7F Recertification Training is shaping up to be a big success again this year. Registration filled up very quickly with many applicators on the wait list. I’ve been involved in the training for the last several years, and I can personally attest that it is well worth the money and time. I would like to thank Doug Allen, the rest of the MMCA board and committee members, and all of the demonstrators and trainers who volunteer their time to educate our fellow mosquito control professionals.

The MMCA Planning Committee is working hard, so keep your eyes out for information on the 31st Annual MMCA Conference on February 1-2, 2017. The conference will be held at the Double Tree Hotel in Port Huron, and is bound to be another stellar event.

                                                                Erik Foster