West Nile Watch: Richardson Sprays After Virus Found

RICHARDSON, TX – The City of Richardson announced Wednesday that its health department will spray one area on Wednesday and Thursday after a mosquito caught in a trap was found to be carrying the West Nile virus.

Spraying will commence at 9 p.m. Wednesday and continue until 4:30 a.m. Thursday. The city will spray again during the same hours Thursday evening into Friday morning.

The area to be sprayed is bound by Apollo Road south, Buckingham Road and Bowser Road east to Jupiter Road.

The city said the spraying will be postponed if wind speeds exceed 10 miles-per-hour, if it rains or if the temperature drops below 50º Fahrenheit (let's all laugh together). (Subscribe to your local Texas Patch for real-time news alerts and informative newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.)

Richardson is working in conjunction with other cities and health agencies in the Metroplex to mitigate the spread of West Nile virus. Additional measures being taken in Richardson include:

- Earlier monitoring of mosquito populations using traps strategically placed in the city;
- Closer collaboration among departments to reduce areas where water can become stagnant;
- Collaborating more closely with regional partners to provide an improved response.

The city uses an EPA-registered pesticide that is proven as one of the fastest and best options to control mosquito populations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports the chemical used by health workers has been fully evaluated by EPA researchers and it does not pose a risk to people or the environment in the way that it is applied. Extensive scientific research has been conducted by academia, industry, and government agencies to identify the appropriate droplet sizes used to ensure public safety, and the equipment nozzles used also undergo rigorous testing to properly distribute the mist when used.

When Spraying Occurs
The Health Department schedules spraying events during overnight hours to limit exposure to people who may wish to avoid contact with the pesticide used to control mosquito populations. Spraying events begin at 9 p.m. with the goal of ending by 4 a.m., though they may run until 4:30 a.m. depending upon the size of the spray area.

How to Protect Yourself from West Nile Virus:
To protect from mosquito bites, people are asked to follow the Four D’s of protection:
• DRAIN standing water around the home,
• Use insect repellent containing DEET,
• Avoid being outdoors at DUSK and DAWN when mosquitoes are most active,
• And DRESS to protect yourself with long sleeves and pants to reduce skin exposure.

More on the West Nile Virus
The West Nile virus is transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito that’s already carrying the virus, but not all mosquitoes are capable of carrying or transmitting the disease. In North Texas, the risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito is greatest from July to October. Not everyone who gets bitten by an infected mosquito will get the virus, and it’s rare for people to become very sick if they do develop symptoms from the disease.

Symptoms of West Nile virus vary depending upon the person who becomes infected. People who do develop symptoms usually suffer from mild “flu-like” illness. Rarely, symptoms may require medical care or hospitalization. The people who are most susceptible to the disease are the very young, the very old and those with weakened immune systems.

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