LSU researchers recently published findings that confirm that the plague, a constant topic of discussion among East Baton Rouge Parish leadership, leads to an increase in the abundance of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.
The researchers investigated the presence of several species of mosquitoes in two adjacent, but socio-economically contrasting, neighborhoods in Baton Rouge: the historic Garden District, a high-income neighborhood, and the Old South neighborhood, a low-income neighborhood. They found a significantly greater abundance of adults and larvae of the Asian tiger mosquito (a transmitter of zika and dengue) and greater availability of mosquito habitat – especially discarded tires – in the Old South neighborhood.
“These two neighborhoods are very similar in terms of vegetation coverage, human population and density of households. One of the main differences is the plague. One neighborhood has many plagues in the form of abandoned homes, vacant lots and poorly managed waste, and the other neighborhood does not. It was the perfect set of conditions to address this issue ”, says Rebeca de Jesus Crespo, lead author and assistant professor at LSU’s coastal and environment college, at an LSU Press release.
The researchers’ findings further support Baton Rouge’s efforts to reduce the plague. When she started her second term earlier this year, Mayor Sharon Weston Broome announced two new initiatives targeting crime, plague and trash in Baton Rouge. Elements of its initiatives include increased law enforcement of existing waste laws and the dedication of three units with the Department of Public Works to clean the city streets and monitor and measure the effectiveness of these efforts on an ongoing basis.
See LSU’s survey announcement on here, along with more Business report and Daily report on here in pest reduction efforts in the city.