Mosquito abatement cuts are harmful

In response to your article about the increase in mosquitoes, it is important to understand that the weather is not the only thing contributing to the significant rise in mosquito populations. Although the weather has created the perfect breeding environment for mosquitoes - a female mosquito can produce 3,000 eggs in just one tablespoon of water - the cutbacks in abatement funding also is contributing to the problem.

City and county budget cuts have forced many mosquito abatements districts to cut back on their proactive control of mosquito populations. These reductions, combined with the current weather forecast, will continue the escalation of mosquito populations across the country. The increase in mosquito populations raises concerns about mosquito-borne disease including West Nile virus, Eastern Equine encephalitis and Dengue fever.

Consumers need to be aware of what their communities are doing to ensure that budget cuts do not hinder the continuation of the abatement programs in their neighborhoods.

John Neberz

Central Life Sciences

Schaumburg