Albuquerque crew to help with mosquito control in Ruidoso amid flooding
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'Our mission will be to survey and assess the extent of standing water in order to determine the potential impact on mosquito abundance,' said City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department Deputy Director Dr. Mark DiMenna. 'Mosquito numbers can explode after flooding events, adding risk of disease transmission and nuisance to an already challenging situation.' There is some pesticide spraying going on in 'problem areas,' DiMenna says, but they have yet to see areas that 'absolutely demand it.' Moreso, the goal is to nip the problem in the bud.
The crew is specifically keeping an eye out for the mosquito species that are more likely to carry disease. This is partly carried out through surveillance traps, also known as light traps, which will determine whether the mosquitoes in the area are capable of disease transmission, such as West Nile virus. The light traps attract mosquitos, then pull them into a small net basket. If the conditions are fitting, thousands of mosquitos can be pulled in overnight.
KRQE caught up with DiMenna on Wednesday to see how the crews' efforts are going. 'We're here now,' said DiMenna. 'We are serving as many of the sites as we can get access to looking for any areas of standing water that were left from the flooding and then trying to assess how much that's going to contribute to the overall issue with mosquitoes as the season goes on for them.' DiMenna says Ruidoso's high elevation gives the town a bit of an advantage against mosquitos, seeing as the bugs typically thrive in low-lying areas.
Although some mosquitos species are more likely to carry West Nile virus, it's important to note that many mosquitos are more nuisances than anything. 'There are 50 some different species of mosquitoes in New Mexico,' said DiMenna. 'Most of them are not important from a public health standpoint. They're nuisance biters. They bother people. They ruin picnics and barbecues, but they don't really transmit anything.'
The Environmental Health Department offered these tips on preventing mosquito bites and disease exposure:
'Use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing when outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends repellents that have been proven effective, which includes those containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 for use on skin, and permethrin for use on clothing. Always follow label directions when using insect repellents.
Consider limiting exposure to mosquitos by not scheduling outdoor activities around dawn and dusk when they are most actively biting.
Eliminate water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay their eggs, such as old tires, and regularly change the water in birdbaths, wading pools and pet water bowls. Make sure rain barrels are tightly screened.
When flood-irrigating, prevent water from standing for more than a few days
Keep windows and doors closed if they do not have screens. If you leave your house doors or windows open, make sure they have screens that fit tightly and do not have holes.'
'Our hearts go out to the people of Ruidoso, and our teams are at the ready to support our neighbors,' said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. 'Mosquitos aren't just a nuisance, they can be a public health hazard after a disaster like this. We will continue to work in close collaboration with Ruidoso emergency management to ensure we support their efforts to rebuild their community.'
For more information on mosquitoes, you can go to the City of Albuquerque website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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