Central Square -- Aerial spraying of the Toad Harbor swamp and surrounding area on the north shore of Oneida Lake is planned to take place Monday evening, July 23, pending receipt of confirmation of a public health threat from the state Department of Health and weather permitting, the Oswego County Health Department announced.

Kathleen Smith, Public Health director for Oswego County, said that the State Health Department has not yet approved the declaration of a public health threat and the use of an aerial application of pesticide as a control measure to reduce the risk of human infection.  

“Even though we do not yet have the approval of the declaration from NYSDOH there is a need to inform the public of a spraying timetable so that when we receive the declaration, the aerial control activities can proceed as quickly as possible”, said Smith.

Smith also announced, another pool of mosquitoes from the Village of Central Square has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) bringing the total to 8 positive EEE pools collected since June 25.  Of even more concern is the fact that 6 of 9 pools of bird-biting mosquitoes collected last week have tested positive.  “The fact that more than half of the Culesita Melanura pools collected last week were positive for EEE indicates a high rate of infection within that specie of mosquito.  It is an alarming percentage,” said Smith.”

The county has contracted with Duflo Spray-Chemical of Lowville to apply the insecticide Kontrol over about 10,000 acres on the north shore of Oneida Lake. The area to be sprayed is the Toad Harbor and Big Bay swamps north of Oneida Lake.  It is bordered by NYS Rte. 49 on the north, US Rte. 11 on the west, Oneida Lake/Oneida River on the south and the hamlet of Constantia on the east.