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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FACT SHEETS
Spraying at Two Campuses Conducted; Students to Return to Classes Tuesday
The Joint Information Center (JIC) is aware there are several unverified social media posts and messages identifying Ordot Chalan Pago as “ground zero.” No determination has been made to the origin of the posting. The community is reminded to refrain from sharing unofficial social media posts or messages that are not from the JIC.
The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA), Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), Guam Department of Education, and local and federal partners continue efforts to minimize the spread of the dengue virus.
In order to reduce the occurrence of mosquito breeding and biting,DPHSS, GEPA, and a contracted vendor conducted insecticide application at Agueda Johnston Middle School (AIJMS) and Ordot Chalan Pago Elementary School (OCPES). The spraying of these campuses started on Sunday and was completed today. AIJMS and OCPES will resume normal operations and students will return to classes on Tuesday.
Residents within the 200-meter radius of the confirmed case are also being asked to have their homes sprayed to control adult and larval mosquitoes. Outreach efforts were conducted throughout Monday in collaboration with the Mangilao Mayor’s Office and will continue throughout the week.
The insecticides used include Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide, Talstar Professional Insecticide and Demon®Max Insecticide.The Guam Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed Safety Data Sheets and product labels for the insecticides that were applied by the contractor, and GEPA has found that these insecticides are EPA-Registered and EPA-Established in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Guam Pesticides Control Act. Additionally, the contracted vendor is permitted with GEPA as a Certified Pesticide Applicator.
The Joint Information Center (JIC) is aware there are several unverified social media posts and messages identifying Ordot Chalan Pago as “ground zero.” No determination has been made to the origin of the posting. The community is reminded to refrain from sharing unofficial social media posts or messages that are not from the JIC.
The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA), Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), Guam Department of Education, and local and federal partners continue efforts to minimize the spread of the dengue virus.
In order to reduce the occurrence of mosquito breeding and biting,DPHSS, GEPA, and a contracted vendor conducted insecticide application at Agueda Johnston Middle School (AIJMS) and Ordot Chalan Pago Elementary School (OCPES). The spraying of these campuses started on Sunday and was completed today. AIJMS and OCPES will resume normal operations and students will return to classes on Tuesday.
Residents within the 200-meter radius of the confirmed case are also being asked to have their homes sprayed to control adult and larval mosquitoes. Outreach efforts were conducted throughout Monday in collaboration with the Mangilao Mayor’s Office and will continue throughout the week.
The insecticides used include Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide, Talstar Professional Insecticide and Demon®Max Insecticide.The Guam Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed Safety Data Sheets and product labels for the insecticides that were applied by the contractor, and GEPA has found that these insecticides are EPA-Registered and EPA-Established in accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Guam Pesticides Control Act. Additionally, the contracted vendor is permitted with GEPA as a Certified Pesticide Applicator.
The precautionary spraying can provide for effective vector control, reduce the production of mosquito larvae and the emergence of breeding and biting mosquitoes, with minimal adverse impacts toward human and environmental health. Based on the insecticide labels, the threat to human health is minimal due to low toxicity.
For further information regarding the pesticide and insecticide application safety, please contact Mr. Nic Rupley, GEPA Public Information Officer, at nic.rupley@epa.guam.gov.
Dengue fever is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, and cannot spread directly from person to person. The best preventive measure for residents living in areas infested with mosquitoes is to eliminate areas where mosquitoes lay eggs, which are primarily artificial containers that hold water.
DPHSS continues to work closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners to minimize the spread of the dengue virus. All healthcare providers are urged to be on alert for additional cases, and a physicians’ alert has been disseminated.
For more information, contact the DPHSS epidemiologist at (671) 888-9276 and refer to attached Frequently Asked Questions about insecticides used.
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For further information regarding the pesticide and insecticide application safety, please contact Mr. Nic Rupley, GEPA Public Information Officer, at nic.rupley@epa.guam.gov.
Dengue fever is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, and cannot spread directly from person to person. The best preventive measure for residents living in areas infested with mosquitoes is to eliminate areas where mosquitoes lay eggs, which are primarily artificial containers that hold water.
DPHSS continues to work closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners to minimize the spread of the dengue virus. All healthcare providers are urged to be on alert for additional cases, and a physicians’ alert has been disseminated.
For more information, contact the DPHSS epidemiologist at (671) 888-9276 and refer to attached Frequently Asked Questions about insecticides used.
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Frequently Asked Questions – Talstar® Professional Insecticide, Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide, Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide
When used properly as required by the EPA approved label, pesticides, insecticides and larvicides can provide for effective vector control, reduce the production of mosquito larvae and the emergence of breeding and biting mosquitoes, with minimal adverse impacts towards human and environmental health. As a reminder, your contractor must ensure that all safety precautions, mixing ratios and personal protective equipment are observed in the application. For your consideration, please see the following Frequently Asked Questions and Answers regarding the products listed in the subject line:
Talstar® P Professional Insecticide
1. What is Talstar® P Professional Insecticide?
2. Why is Talstar® Professional Insecticide being applied?
3. Where is Talstar® Professional Insecticide being applied?
4. How will Talstar® P Professional Insecticide be applied?
6. Who will be applying Talstar® P Professional Insecticide at my residence?
When used properly as required by the EPA approved label, pesticides, insecticides and larvicides can provide for effective vector control, reduce the production of mosquito larvae and the emergence of breeding and biting mosquitoes, with minimal adverse impacts towards human and environmental health. As a reminder, your contractor must ensure that all safety precautions, mixing ratios and personal protective equipment are observed in the application. For your consideration, please see the following Frequently Asked Questions and Answers regarding the products listed in the subject line:
Talstar® P Professional Insecticide
1. What is Talstar® P Professional Insecticide?
- Talstar® P Professional Insecticide is a commercial grade insecticide that treats against insects like flies, fleas, termites, ants, mosquitoes, bedbugs, bees and wasps.
2. Why is Talstar® Professional Insecticide being applied?
- Talstar® P Professional Insecticide is being applied to control adult mosquitoes indoors in residential and public buildings like schools.
3. Where is Talstar® Professional Insecticide being applied?
- Talstar® Professional Insecticide is being applied in cracks and crevices, or spots where pests hide, such as baseboards, corners, storage areas, closets, around water pipes, doors and windows, attics and eaves, behind and under refrigerators, cabinets, sinks, furnaces, stoves, the underside of shelves, drawers and similar areas where pests can enter a structure.
4. How will Talstar® P Professional Insecticide be applied?
- Talstar® P Professional Insecticide will be applied with either a manual handheld sprayer or manual backpack sprayer.
- How long will I have to wait until I can occupy a space that has been treated with Talstar® P Professional Insecticide?
- Based on the EPA approved label, areas and surfaces treated with Talstar® P Professional Insecticide must be given ample time to completely dry before people and pets are able to occupy a space where the insecticide was applied. The contracted insecticide applicator recommends that people and pets avoid treated areas for at least 1 hour after the insecticide application.
6. Who will be applying Talstar® P Professional Insecticide at my residence?
- A private contractor called Top End Pest Control Guam will be applying Talstar® P Professional Insecticide. Top End Pest Control Guam is a Certified Pesticide Control Operator with Certified Applicators and is in good compliance standing with the Guam EPA.
Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide
1. What is Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide?
- Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide is a commercial grade insecticide designed for use in, on and around buildings and structures, including lawns and landscapes, for the control of pests including mosquitoes.
2. Why is Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide being applied?
- Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide is being applied to control adult mosquitoes outdoors in residential and public buildings like schools.
3. Where is Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide being applied?
- Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide is being applied outdoors along property perimeters to allow residual treatment of outside surfaces of residential and public buildings including, but not limited to, exterior siding foundations, porches, window frames, eaves, patios, garages, refuse dumps, lawns or grass areas adjacent or around residential or public structures. Applications may be made to soil, trunks of woody ornamentals or other areas where pests congregate or have been seen and where mosquito vector control is required.
4. How will Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide be applied?
• Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide will be applied with a backpack gas engine powered low pressure mister.
- How long will I have to wait until I can occupy a space that has been treated with Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide?
- Based on the EPA approved label, exterior areas and surfaces treated with Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide must be given ample time to completely dry before people and pets are able to occupy a space where the insecticide was applied. The contracted insecticide applicator recommends that people and pets avoid treated areas for at least 1 hour after the insecticide application.
6. Who will be applying Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide at my residence?
- A private contractor called Top End Pest Control Guam will be applying Demon® Max Group 3 Insecticide. Top End Pest Control Guam is a Certified Pesticide Control Operator with Certified Applicators and is in good compliance standing with the Guam EPA.
Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide
1. What is Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide?
- Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide is an over the counter water soluble larvicide designed for use to treat standing non-potable water sources, including containerized standing water sites where mosquitoes can breed.
2. Why is Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide being applied?
• Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide is being applied to kill developing mosquitoes and mosquito larvae.
3. Where is Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide being applied?
- Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide is being applied outdoors in standing non-potable water sources, including containerized standing water sites where mosquitoes can breed.
4. How will is Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide be applied?
- Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide will be applied by placing the product, a water soluble pouch, into standing non-potable water sources, including containerized standing water sites where mosquitoes can breed. The water soluble pouch will dissolve upon contact with water, and release a natural soil borne bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Israelensis) that will be ingested by mosquito larvae.
- How long will I have to wait until I can occupy a space that has been treated with Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide?
- Although Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide is considered nontoxic, we clearing or treating any sources of standing water on your property.
6. Who will be applying Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide at my residence?
- A private contractor called Top End Pest Control Guam will be applying Bonide® Mosquito Beater Larvicide. Top End Pest Control Guam is a Certified Pesticide Control Operator with Certified Applicators and is in good compliance standing with the Guam EPA.
The information contained herein is derived from Guam EPA’s review of the Safety Data Sheets and labels for the products that the contracted applicator will be using.
