Warren Mayor James Fouts Again Initiates City-Wide Mosquito Elimination Program To Fight West Nile Virus
Warren, MI – Warren Mayor James Fouts has again directed city Department of Public Works division employees to begin depositing mosquito prevention briquettes into the city’s 18,000 catch basins, and the Mayor has further directed all city inspectors to look for stagnant standing water to prevent an outbreak of the West Nile Virus.
City of Warren residents can pick up briquettes at the city’s Department of Public Works garage on Stephens between Hoover and Schoenherr.
The limit is four per Warren resident, and gloves must be worn for briquettes pick-up.
“Mosquito bites transmit the dangerous West Nile Virus that resulted in 5,387 human infections and 243 deaths in recent years, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Mayor James Fouts in a statement.
City of Warren property maintenance inspectors have been directed to identify pools or ponds of water which would be ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. They will also identify other potential breeding areas for mosquitoes such as dumpsters, wheelbarrows, tires, hubcaps, garden equipment, pool covers, pipes, drains, recycling bins, flower pots, buckets and clogged rain gutters. Residents are encouraged to check the above items and make sure they are emptied of standing stagnant water.
Warren Mayor James Fouts said, if inspectors identify stagnant pools and other major sources of mosquito breeding, homeowners will be notified that they must eliminate the problem or may face fines up to $1000.
Mayor Fouts said mosquito prevention tips will be included in all city publications.
The City of Warren Recreation Department will direct and train their employees to identify and then treat places of standing water in the parks with “mosquito dunks,” which are similarly shaped like hockey pucks, which dissolve in water and kill the larvae.
Warren Mayor James Fouts has stated “that every effort will be put forth to protect Warren residents against the dangers posed by mosquito infestation.”
Further noting “that Michigan was one of the top two states in both fatalities and serious illnesses caused by West Nile almost 10 years ago”.