Frequently Asked Questions

What is tularemia?

Tularemia is commonly called "rabbit fever" and is commonly transmitted by a tick. Rabbits are the primary wild animal host for this disease and are very susceptible. Dogs and cats are also very susceptible. Humans can become infected but it is rare. Typical symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, an ulceration at the point of the tick bite, fever, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

I have found a dead rodent, who will pick it up/test it for plague/tularemia?

Staff from Vector-Borne & Zoonotic Disease Division will retrieve the rodent, take samples, and forward them to the Scientific Laboratory Division (SLD) for testing. Only rodents found in the East Mountains and the Western Foothills will be retrieved. Common rodents involved in plague transmission include rock squirrels, packrats, chipmunks, mice, and prairie dogs. SLD will notify VBZDD of the results.

How can I protect myself from plague?

Remove all rodent harborage such as wood piles. Reduce or eliminate any outside food source such as bird-feeders or pet dishes. Do not allow pets to roam; restrain them to residence. Treat pets regularly for fleas. Seek medical/veterinary attention immediately if symptoms appear such as swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

I am having a problem with lots of mice. What can you do to help?

The city does not have a service to control mice but advice is provided to help alleviate the problem. Removing harborage such as trash, wood piles, and other types of unnecessary clutter will help. Proper storage of food and sealing up cracks/crevices that mice use to gain entry is important. Traps and baits are available to help control mice.

What can I do to protect myself from hantavirus?

Hantavirus is primarily found in northern NM and is carried by the deer mouse. If there are many mouse droppings and/or carcasses in a confined area, make sure to ventilate for a minimum of 30 minutes. Use gloves and spray droppings/carcasses with a 5-10% bleach solution to disinfect and place in a Ziploc bag and discard.

Do you test dead birds for WNV?

No. Dead birds are only collected to determine if WNV is present in a county. When WNV is detected, according to the state protocol it is not necessary to retrieve dead birds for testing.

How do I get onto the spray list for mosquitoes?

Please contact the Environmental Health at 768-2600 to make a request.

How long before someone comes to spray?

A truck will dispatched when a spray request list of approximately 15 sites is generated. If there is a cluster of requests in the same area, a staff
member will investigate and try to find the breeding site and implement control measures.

What chemicals do you use for spraying?

Currently we are using resemethrin (Scourge) and AquaReslin. We do not use malathion for mosquito control. In order to reduce pesticide usage we regularly check mosquito sites to control mosquitoes when they are found in the water. We also recommend the reduction of artificial containers, which can retain water such as tires, cans, bottles, old plastic swimming pools, etc.

Do you spray in the City and County for mosquitoes?

Yes, we spray in the City and the County.

How can I obtain mosquito fish?

Fish are available at the Montessa Park facility, Eastside Animal Services, and at Albuquerque Water Garden.