As foreclosure numbers across the country continue to climb and temperatures heat up, the ""National Pest Management Association"":http://www.Pestworld.org (NPMA), headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, is reminding homeowners and the industry to remain vigilant of an ancillary issue stemming from continued increases in vacated homes - potential mosquito infestations in the summer months, especially in and around those foreclosed properties with backyard pools.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported just last week that nearly half of all new foreclosures during the first quarter of the year were concentrated in the Sun Belt states - Nevada, Florida, California, and Arizona - where the summer climate warrants an abundance of pool-centered oases in virtually every neighborhood.
NPMA warns that the abandonment of pools due to foreclosure should be a concern because mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. When pools are not maintained or properly treated, the association said, the potential for a significant mosquito infestation rapidly rises. NPMA explained, considering that the standing water that collects naturally in empty flower pots or bird baths provides a terrific opportunity for mosquito breeding, an abandoned swimming pool offers an even greater chance for a major pest infestation that can affect the homes adjacent to the foreclosed property.
Greg Baumann, senior scientist for NPMA, said, ""Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance pest but also, a major health threat. While associated with causing itchy welts, these pests can also transmit West Nile virus (WNV). In fact, the Center for Disease Control reported that WNV resulted in more than 1,300 human cases and 44 fatalities across the U.S. in 2008. Awareness of conducive conditions for mosquito breeding, especially in and around foreclosed homes, is the key to preventing potential mosquito infestations and limiting WNV in 2009.""
NPMA advises anyone concerned about a foreclosed property with a backyard pool, to contact their local health department. The ""National Pest Management Association"":http://www.Pestworld.org is a non-profit organization established in 1933 to support the pest management industry's commitment to the protection of property, as well as food and public health.