U.S. Air Force Successfully Completes Aerial Spraying Operation 

Release Date: October 11, 2008
Release Number: 1786-063

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The State of Louisiana and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have announced that the mission assignment to the U.S. Air Force to conduct aerial spraying for mosquito abatement is now complete. Spraying was conducted in Louisiana coastal parishes affected by the Hurricane Ike storm surge as determined by the FEMA disaster declaration.

The U.S. Air Force Reserve, which sprayed nearly three quarters of a million acres (772,000), began its mission on Sunday, Sept. 21 and completed it approximately two weeks later on Monday, Oct. 6.

The mission assignment was the first of two separate programs for mosquito-spraying in Louisiana, both of which were initiated to prevent the possible threat of mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus and other arboviruses. This flight program sprayed areas that included Grand Isle and the parishes of Cameron, Iberia, lower Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Mary and Terrebonne.  

U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130 cargo planes from the 910th Airlift Wing in Youngstown, Ohio, conducted the spraying operation. For this assignment, these aircraft, which are specially equipped with a Modular Aerial Spray System (MASS), were based at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, La. Although the flight schedule sometimes had to be adjusted because of weather, when the operation could proceed as planned, nearly 80,000 acres were sprayed in a day.   

The insecticide sprayed was Dibrom (NALED) which has been widely used in adult mosquito control operations in Louisiana and has historical precedent for use following mosquito emergency outbreaks. Insecticide formulations are approved and registered by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency for mosquito control.

State and federal agencies were involved to ensure that public health interests were fully considered. State agencies included the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.  Federal agencies included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Defense Northern Command, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The second of the two mosquito-abatement programs is still available to all Louisiana parishes because of Hurricane Gustav. The parishes sprayed for Ike can also spray again under this program.

Officials of those parishes interested in participating in this program must work with DHH's medical entomologist to establish landing rate counts and submit maps for approval of spray zones. The parishes can then hire private contractors to spray. 

Parishes will be reimbursed 75 percent of eligible costs under FEMA's Public Assistance Program with the remaining 25 percent being reimbursed by DHH.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Oct-2008 09:26:37