April 25, 2025. Reno/Sparks, Nev. – Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) will scale back mosquito treatment efforts in 2025 due to budget cuts and funding uncertainty but urges residents to remain vigilant and take precautions against mosquito bites.
The District Board of Health, which governs NNPH, voted to postpone aerial mosquito treatment via helicopter at its meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025, a matter proposed by NNPH leadership due to increasing program management costs.
Helicopter treatment/abatement, which in the past was typically done four-five times during the spring and summer months, costs about $2,000 per hour, excluding larvicide and fuel. Not paying a vendor for helicopter abatement will save approximately $265,619 during Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.
The purpose of the abatement is to reduce the mosquito population, which decreases the chances of mosquito borne diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV) spreading to humans. Since 2020, there has been one human case of WNV in Washoe County.
“The decision to scale back our mosquito abatement efforts was not taken lightly,” said Chad Kingsley, MD, District Health Officer for NNPH. “NNPH, like many local government agencies, has been impacted by federal and state budget cuts recently, and our FY26 projections show additional challenges. While the helicopter will not be used this year for mosquito abatement, our staff will continue to work tirelessly using other methods of abatement for our community.”
See NNPH Mosquito Safety One Sheet Here
NNPH will continue to conduct treatment on small mosquito breeding sources across the region as needed and maintain surveillance, regularly reporting mosquito population numbers and any populations that test positive for viruses. Drones will be used for emergency spot treatments, but they are not a replacement for helicopter treatments – the average time a drone can fly for on one battery cycle is approximately 11 minutes.
Residents can report mosquito-biting activity by calling Washoe 311. If resources are available, staff will follow up with additional information and onsite investigations.
Safety Information for Residents
Whether you recreate near wetlands or other places where standing water and mosquitoes are present, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of mosquito bites.
Personal Protection Measures
- Use EPA-Registered Insect Repellents – see more info here
- Wear Protective Clothing – When outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Limit Outdoor Exposure – Reduce time spent outdoors during peak mosquito activity periods (dusk to dawn).
- Maintain Window and Door Screens – Ensure that screens are intact and free of holes to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
Environmental Management
If you live near an area where mosquitoes are present, take preventive steps to apply to your property. If you rent a home or apartment, consider contacting management or the homeowners association about steps taken to reduce the number of mosquitoes that frequent the area.
- Eliminate Standing Water – Regularly empty and clean containers that collect water, such as bird baths, pet bowls, flower pots, and buckets. Even small amounts of standing water can serve as mosquito breeding sites.
- Maintain Water Features – Keep swimming pools, hot tubs, and ornamental ponds clean and properly circulating. Use filtration systems and cover pools when not in use to prevent mosquito breeding.
- Use Mosquito-Reducing Fish – Introduce mosquito fish or goldfish into large water troughs or ornamental ponds to control mosquito larvae.
- Clean Roof Gutters – Remove debris from gutters to prevent water accumulation, which can become a mosquito breeding ground.
For more information, visit NNPH’s Vector-Borne Disease Prevention website.
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Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making District Board of Health. NNPH consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here