MISSION OF THE UINTAH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT

     The Uintah Mosquito Abatement District was created by order of the Board of Uintah County Commissioners on August 5, 1974 pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 14, Title 26 of Utah Health Code Annotated (1953) as amended. Organized mosquito/disease vector control procedures were commenced for the first time in Uintah County Utah, as on May 14, 1975.

     The Uintah Mosquito Abatement District provides an essential public health service to the citizens of the county who dwell throughout a vast geographic area typified by diverse occupational and recreational pursuits as common to both urbanization and rural agriculture. The immense reproductive capacity of local  mosquito/disease vector species is perfectly married to huge acreages of ecologically prime breeding habitat created in association with five major river/stream drainages and large scale county-wide irrigation practices. The relative potential for mosquito/disease vector production in Uintah County ranks among the very highest in the state of Utah, and will surely stand with the most challenging among other regions of the nation which fall under the public health jurisdiction of over 750 organized mosquito/vector control programs.

     Of immediate medical importance by way implementation of coordinated mosquito/vector control procedures is the preservation of the health and well being of the citizens of the county. Locally, citizens are constantly threatened by the possible severe act of mosquito-borne human disease. Additionally, generalized physical trauma, emotional annoyance and irritation, frequent secondary infection, and often severe allergic reactions to bites are regular consequences of unabated mosquito/disease vector parasitism upon humans.

     In addition to the immediate public health benefits realized by the citizens of, and visitors to the county, substantial economic and recreational enhancement are regularly achieved as a direct consequence of organized mosquito/vector control. A high and biologically effective level of local control regularly promotes the full enjoyment and participation of citizens in all available outdoor recreational activities with unimpeded patronization of recreation-oriented businesses and a diversity of other outdoor places of commerce. The entire spectrum of activities participated in by the economically vital tourist industry is similarly enhanced. In many instances, real land and property values may be either beneficially or adversely affected as dependent upon the relative abundance of mosquito/vector populations. Numerous citizens have moved into and work, play, and dwell in mosquito-controlled regions of Uintah County which exhibit a constant mosquito productive potential of such high intensity as to otherwise render those areas uninhabitable by any rational standards of living.

     The many residents of the county whose livelihood is ranching or cropland agriculture are prime beneficiaries of integrated mosquito/vector control. An unimpeded worker is an effective worker. Time-dependent field culture and crop harvest operations as well as total outdoor work productivity are significantly improved. The fiscal benefits of essential irrigation developments may be fully realized. Natural vitality in livestock and poultry is preserved, resulting in very real and substantially higher monetary benefits from increased meat, milk, and egg production. While providing critical relief from the occupationally magnified threat of mosquito/vector borne human disease and trauma as encountered in the farm/ranch environment, similar important disease protection is provided for valuable local livestock.

Written by the late Dr. Steven Romney (UMAD Director 1975-2008)