Zika Virus and Mosquito Prevention in Food Facilities

One example of a promising solution for food manufacturing facility business owners is Terminix’s Attractive Targeted Sugar Bait (ATSB) mosquito service, which is non-toxic and safe for use in both residential as well as business settings. The active ingredient in the ATSB solution is garlic oil, which is combined with sugar from natural sources to attract mosquitoes and eliminate them before they can bite a human host. Because the solution does not include any chemicals, it is harmless to humans and pets, making it an ideal option for grounds around food manufacturing facilities. According to the company, ATSB has been shown to reduce mosquito populations by more than 90 percent in just three weeks.

Facilities managers can also take action themselves by conducting common-sense preventive activities. Facility owners should be mindful of opportunities inside and around their business for mosquitoes to breed, particularly by eliminating areas of standing water. Keep vegetation, such as plants, grass, and trees, well-trimmed to ensure that they are not creating ideal homes for these pests.

In addition to stopping mosquitoes from breeding, facility owners can mitigate the potential for mosquitoes to affect themselves and their staff. Employees working in outdoor areas or in facilities with mosquito challenges should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent bites, and consider using an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Business owners may also consider using box fans to keep mosquitoes away since they are relatively weak fliers and will find it difficult to land against the fan’s gusts.

Keeping the Bite out of the Bottom Line

Food manufacturing professionals and all business owners have a responsibility to ensure that they mitigate pest issues in and around their facilities for the health and safety of their employees and customers. To do so, they should talk to a pest management professional about the steps they can take independently, as well as advanced entomological solutions, that will address mosquito populations in a safe and nontoxic manner, particularly while remaining sensitive to the specific needs of food-related businesses.

To reduce the risk of infection for customers and employees, food manufacturing business leaders should implement the following tactics.

• Contact a pest management professional from a trusted provider to evaluate facility and grounds and identify mosquito breeding grounds and hotspots.
• Ensure that common-sense measures, such as eliminating standing water and keeping vegetation well-kempt, are implemented on a regular basis.
• Communicate efforts to employees and colleagues, and ensure they know steps they can take to protect themselves against mosquito bites, such as wearing insect repellent and long sleeved shirts.
• Ensure that any pest management strategies taken in food manufacturing facilities are nontoxic and safe for use around food.

Dr. Cope is the director of Entomology and Regulatory Services for Terminix International, a ServiceMaster company, and president of the American Mosquito Control Association. Reach him at [email protected].