Presence Of West Nile Prompts Spraying In Arlington

ARLINGTON, TX – Officials from the City of Arlington announced Wednesday that various parts of the city will be sprayed for mosquitos after five mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile Virus.

The ground spraying follows recommendations from the City of Arlington Health Authority, Tarrant County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only areas with a confirmed presence of the virus will be sprayed.

Contractors will conduct two consecutive nights of targeted ground spraying on Wednesday, July 25 and Thursday, July 26 between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., weather permitting.

The following areas will be sprayed:

• Jake Langston Park at Woodside Drive
• East Mayfield Road at New York Avenue
• Caliente Drive at Commander Court
• Stagetrail Drive at Highway 287
• Perkins Road at Shady Hill Lane

The contractor will use an ultra-low volume application of Aqua-Pursuit, a water-based permethrin product, in specific areas where deploying larvicide and other measures have not proven effective, the city said in a press release. (Subscribe to your local Texas Patch for real-time news alerts and informative newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.)

Arlington has conducted routine trapping and deployed larvicide in strategic locations throughout the city since the beginning of mosquito season. Crews have also surveyed low-lying areas for standing water, which are potential mosquito breeding grounds.

Arlington also partners with Tarrant County Public Health to educate the public on simple measures they should take while enjoying the outdoors to prevent mosquito bites:

• Dress in long sleeves and pants when you’re outside. For extra protection, you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent.
• DEET is an ingredient to look for in your insect repellent. Follow label instructions, and always wear repellent when outdoors.
• Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood where mosquitoes can breed. This includes old tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, etc. Mosquitoes may develop in any water stagnant for more than three or four days. For shallow standing water that cannot be eliminated, check regularly for the presence of mosquito larvae and if seen, apply a biological larvicide often referred to as “mosquito dunks,” available at local hardware stores.

What do I need to do to prepare for targeted ground spraying?

No specific risks to animals or the environment are expected, and no special precautions are required. People who are concerned about exposure to a pesticide, such as those with chemical sensitivity or breathing conditions such as asthma can reduce their potential for exposure by staying indoors during the application period (typically nighttime). Once the pesticide product dissipates, it breaks down in the environment (generally within 24 hours) and produces little residual effect.

For more information about the targeted ground spraying, please call the City of Arlington’s Action Center at 817-459-6777. Download the City’s free Ask Arlington app today to receive notifications about targeted ground spraying or to report standing water or mosquito infestations on private property.

For more information about the targeted ground spraying, please call the City of Arlington’s Action Center at 817-459-6777.

Click here to learn more facts about West Nile Virus and other mosquito borne illness and how to prevent mosquito breeding sites.

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