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Environmental Health Information

General Information

West Nile Virus Weekly Update (pdf 133KB)

The Weekly Update provides current state, regional, and national West Nile virus surveillance information.

Zoonotic Disease Newsletter

The Department of Health's West Nile Virus Newsletter has been replaced by the Zoonotic Disease Newsletter. It serves to keep our partners current on news and issues surrounding zoonoses. West Nile virus will continue to be a significant topic of the Zoonotic Disease Newsletter, especially during the West Nile virus monitoring season. 

Arboviral Encephalitides, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC provides information on arboviral encephalitides including transmission and maintenance cycle, global distribution, cases reported, and surveillance guidelines.

Mosquito Control

Insect Repellents Containing DEET, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Information on EPA's action concerning the DEET which is used in many insect repellents.

Updated Information on Insect Repellent, May 8, 2008, Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention

CDC updated repellent guidance now include active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD• the synthesized version of oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 that offer long-lasting protection against mosquito bites.

Public Health Confronts the Mosquito: Developing Sustainable State and Local Mosquito Control Programs, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), February 2005

Final report and recommendations of the ASTHO Mosquito Control Collaborative. The purpose of this document is to serve as a catalyst for discussion and as a working document for public health practitioners and policymakers. 

Before the Swarm: Guidelines for the Emergency Management of Mosquito-borne Disease Outbreaks, Association of  State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), August 2008

Building on the solid foundation established by the "Public Health Confronts the Mosquito: Developing Sustainable State and Local Mosquito Programs" (see above), this document provides guidance to help state and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private industry groups prepare for the emergency management of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.

Communicating about Effective Mosquito Control - Tailor Made for Our Community, Association of  State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), January 2009

A toolkit that provides model fact sheets, communication strategies, and useful templates for collaborating with policymakers and members of the public to develop and support scalable mosquito control programs that fit the needs of your community.

Formation of Mosquito Control Districts, Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington

Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington lays out how to form a mosquito control district. 

EPA and Mosquito Control, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA's information about pesticides used to control mosquitoes.

Best Management Practices for Mosquito Control, Washington State Department of Ecology, May 2004

Approved best management practices for mosquito control that include a hierarchy of preferred integrated pest management options which satisfy the Washington State Department of Ecology's NPDES Permit requirement.

Larvicide: Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is a larvicide used for aquatic mosquito control. The information provides answers to common questions about the effect of this larvicide on health and environment.

Larvicide: Bacillus sphaericus

Bacillus sphaericus is a larvicide used for aquatic mosquito control. The information  provides answers to common questions about the effect of this larvicide on health and environment.

Pesticides and Toxicology, National Pesticide Information Center

National Pesticide Information Center, West Nile Virus Resource Guide section on health concerns about insect repellents and insecticide used to control mosquitoes.

Pesticides Used to Control West Nile Virus, US National Library of Medicine

Toxicological information on pesticides used to control West Nile virus at the US National Library of Medicine.

Guide to Pesticide Products Registered for Control of Mosquito Larvae in Washington, Washington State Department of Agriculture

Guide to pesticide products including active ingredients and application requirements for mosquito larvae control. 

American Mosquito Control Association Position Statement on Mosquito Misting Systems
The American Mosquito Control Association concerns about outdoor time-released insecticide misting systems as a means to control mosquitoes.

Outdoor Residential Misting (Including Mosquito Misting Systems), US Environmental Protection Agency

Fact sheet on timed-release outdoor residential misting systems to control mosquitoes and other insects around the home.

Surveillance Information & Tools

Educational Materials

West Nile virus educational materials are available in multi-languages. These materials can be either ordered from the DOH Publication Warehouse or printed from camera-ready art.

Public Service Announcements and Print Ads

Audio public service announcements and print ads are available to help reach communities about West Nile virus prevention.

Washington's West Nile Virus Resource Guide (pdf 389KB )

A resource guide developed to help coordinate activities that protect people and animals from mosquito-borne disease, including West Nile virus. 

West Nile Virus Outbreak Response Plan 

This plan is part of the Zoonotics Response Basic Plan to the Washington State Department of Health Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. It describes the role of the Washington State Department of Health relative to a West Nile virus outbreak, and how the agency will operate to support local health jurisdictions during conditions leading up to and including outbreak.

Guidance for Surveillance, Prevention, and Control of Mosquito-borne Disease, 2008 Edition (pdf 1MB)

Guidance on a phased response to mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus, involving surveillance, prevention, and mosquito control activities. 

2004-2005 West Nile Virus Environmental Surveillance in Washington State (pdf 294KB)

A summary of West Nile virus environmental surveillance activities conducted during 2004 and 2005. The report includes program highlights, from the first detection of West Nile activity since 2002 to newly translated educational materials for outreach to minority communities.

2004 West Nile Virus Summary (pdf 24KB)

Surveillance and educational outreach summary for the 2004 West Nile virus season.

2003 West Nile Virus Nonhuman Surveillance in Washington (pdf 703KB) 

A report on West Nile virus nonhuman surveillance activities in Washington for 2003. The report includes program highlights, from newly detected mosquito species in 21 counties to new publications on how to safely use mosquito repellents. 

West Nile Virus Surveillance in Washington, January 2002 Report (pdf 780KB)

Findings of the 2000 and 2001 West Nile virus surveillance activities in Washington.

Distribution of Mosquitoes in Washington State

Statewide mosquito species distribution checklist that highlights new findings for years 2001-2008 as a results of surveillance efforts for West Nile virus.

Mosquito Trapping Reporting Form (pdf 171KB)

Reporting form used to track mosquito trapping events.

CDC Interim Guidance for States Conducting Avian Mortality Surveillance for West Nile Virus and/or Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus (pdf  39KB)

Interim guidance on conducting avian mortality surveillance for West Nile virus and avian influenza virus including precautions for bird collection. 

Dead Bird Guidance for Handling and Concerns about Avian Influenza (pdf 40KB)

Guidance for handling dead bird calls and concerns about Avian Influenza.

Dead Bird Reporting Form (pdf 36KB)

Reporting form used to track dead bird events.

Dead Bird Surveillance Protocol (pdf 424KB)

Protocol for dead bird surveillance including instructions on collecting oral swab samples and dead bird carcasses for testing, and the reporting form.

Joint Statement on Mosquito Control in the United States, US Environmental Protection Agency

Joint statement on mosquito control from EPA and CDC that defines the role of government agencies and the public to protect against mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus.

Focus on Mosquitoes, Washington State Department of Ecology

This focus sheet clarifies Ecology's role in permitting use of insecticides to control and minimize effects of  West Nile virus.