North Coventry To Be Sprayed For West Nile Virus

NORTH COVENTRY, PA — Parts of North Coventry and East Coventry will be sprayed with a chemical to limit mosquito populations and the spread of West Nile Virus.

The spraying will take place on Monday, Aug. 20 from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. A rain date is set for Aug. 21 from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

The county will use a truck-mounted sprayer to apply .66 ounces of DeltaGard, which kills off mosquito populations.

The area within the shaded part of the maps above will be sprayed.

Officials say that the spray becomes "inactive" hours after spraying, and that the nighttime hours are chosen because bees have already returned to their hives at that point. The health department added that sprays are not used near bodies of water or apiaries in order to protect aquatic life and bees.

Officials say that residents "should consider" staying inside while the spraying is occurring, and turning off any ventilation systems that draw in outside air.

The risk of being infected with West Nile from a mosquito is very low, according to medical experts, but residents are still urged to take simple precautions, like using repellent and removing standing water from their property.

West Nile Virus typically causes fever but can lead to neurological illness in extremely rare cases.

Images via Chester County Health Department