Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol, the Tower Drive and Fourth Avenue areas are scheduled for follow-up mosquito spraying on Wednesday, Oct. 14, weather permitting, between 9 p.m. and midnight. Spraying helps reduce the mosquito population and the risk of West Nile Virus spreading to humans. Signs will be posted in the affected areas to alert residents, who are asked to stay inside during spraying and keep pets inside or in the backyard.
Click here for more details about the spray areas as well as next week's spray scheduleTo prevent mosquito bites and reduce breeding grounds, KCHD advises all residents to:
- Wear appropriate clothing and repellant when outside and mosquitoes are present;
- Dispose of, regularly empty or turn over any containers holding water on your property;
- Make sure roof gutters drain properly and water doesn’t pool in them;
- Change the water in birdbaths at least once a week; and
- Use a mosquito repellant that contains DEET (the chemical N-N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) and follow the directions on the label. Pregnant women and those who are concerned about using repellent products on children should consult their health care provider for advice.
To address the public health concerns caused by mosquitoes, KCHD conducts a West Nile Virus control program during the summer and fall months. As the weather warms each spring, public health professionals begin a weekly process of trapping and testing mosquitoes for WNV, a mosquito-borne disease which can infect humans, horses and birds. From March until the first frost, KCHD also uses larvicides in areas with standing water to prevent mosquito proliferation. More information on the WNV control program and prevention tips are available by calling 865-215-5200 or by clicking here.
