Maryland's mosquito population has reached what some are calling a two-decade high, while funding to fight the disease-carrying pest is dwindling, according to state officials who say they fear they will run out of money before mosquito season ends.
"We've had a very active year," said Mike Cantwell, program manager of the Maryland Department of Agriculture's mosquito control division. "We are getting close to our budgeted amount for many counties and we still have seven weeks to go."
After an abnormally rainy spring fostered large mosquito populations, the division used up much of its budget to combat the swarms, he said. Now, with hurricane season looming and the promise of more rainy conditions that are ideal for mosquito breeding, aerial and ground insecticide spraying efforts are in jeopardy.
The state has sprayed insecticides by plane over 268,000 acres so far this year, Cantwell said. In a typical mosquito season, which lasts through October, it sprays 300,000 acres, putting the division well ahead of its normal spraying schedule.
Despite a relatively dry July, some are calling this the worst mosquito season in 20 years, said David Schofield, assistant program manager of the mosquito control division.
His office oversees mosquito control on the Eastern Shore and uses a "human bait" technique to count the winged pests. Two people stand outside and count the number of mosquitoes that land on their arms and legs in two minutes. Aerial spraying is in order if the count reaches 12 mosquitoes per minute.
"Southern Dorchester County has been experiencing landing rate counts exceeding 100 per minute," Schofield said. "Those are horrendous numbers. Normally in the summer you don't break double digits for one minute."
Tony DeWitt, an agricultural inspector monitoring Baltimore and Harford counties, said numbers have remained high in residential areas there as well. Even areas typically not infested have been invaded, he said.
The mosquito control program, which is voluntary, requires local jurisdictions to contribute funds to participate. Baltimore City does not participate in the state's program because it does not provide the required funds, Cantwell said.
The Baltimore City Health Department responds to complaints about mosquitoes by emptying containers with standing water or treating standing water with chemicals to kill mosquito larvae, said Juan Gutierrez, assistant commissioner for environmental health. So far this year there have been 99 mosquito-related investigations, compared to 199 in 2008, he said.
