News Releases > More mosquito spraying scheduled this week
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Aug. 16, 2010). – The health department will conduct targeted spraying this week in areas of Allen County where traps have again yielded mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus.
For the second week in a row, vector control crews will spray Tuesday in a half-mile radius of the 3100 block of Pennsylvania Street, the 3000 block of Wayne Trace and the 2400 block of Euclid Avenue in Fort Wayne. The department will also be spraying the 17500 block of Doty Road and the 8100 block of Calera Drive on Tuesday.
Additional spraying will occur Wednesday in a half-mile radius around the 6000 block of Glenview Drive, the 2400 block of Buckhurst Run and the 4700 block of Highwood Drive , as a result of West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes in those areas.
Maps of the proposed spray areas are included with this release and available on the department’s Web site at www.allencountyhealth.com.
Spraying will begin at approximately 8:15 p.m. each day, weather permitting. Spraying will not occur when the temperature is below 55 °F, wind speeds exceed 10 mph or it is raining.
Mosquitoes can carry the West Nile virus which, when transmitted to humans, can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash. A more severe form of the disease can lead to neurological disorders, coma and even death.
The health department’s mosquito control program focuses on eliminating potential breeding sites, larviciding to reduce the mosquito population, and placing traps to collect and test mosquitoes for disease. Spraying for adult mosquitoes, also known as adulticiding, is only performed when samples test positive for the West Nile virus.
While the pesticide used for mosquito control is an EPA-approved, low-volume concentration that is considered safe for humans and pets, it is suggested that residents remain indoors, bring pets inside, and close windows and doors while spraying is occurring.
Residents can do their part to reduce the mosquito population by eliminating standing water on their property.
For more information or to sign up to receive mosquito spraying notifications, visit www.allencountyhealth.com.
