West Chester To Be Sprayed For West Nile Virus

WEST CHESTER, PA — Part of West Chester will be sprayed with a chemical to limit mosquito populations and the spread of West Nile Virus.

The spraying will take place on Thursday, Aug. 16 from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., the Chester County Department of Health announced. A rain date is set for Monday, Aug. 20.

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

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 area within the shaded part of the maps below will be sprayed:

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

Main image via Shutterstock, body images via Chester County Health Department