Treatments planned to combat West Nile virus
Communities in and around Canton Township will be sprayed with pesticides this Tuesday after mosquito samples collected in the area tested positive for West Nile Virus.
The spraying will be conducted between 8 and 9 p.m. by the Fayette-Washington Mosquito-Borne Disease Program to lower the mosquito population and minimize the risk of human transmission. The rain date is Wednesday, Aug. 28 between 8 and 9 p.m.
Program officials will spray the pesticide Aquadet – classified by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a low-risk insecticide – from an Ultra Low Volume (ULV) mounted truck sprayer. Aquadet is not harmful to humans or pets, according to program officials.
West Nile virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., spread to people by bites from infected mosquitoes. Most people infected with the virus do not feel sick, and fewer than 1% of infected people develop a serious illness.
To deter mosquito bites, residents can use insect repellent on exposed skin or wear long sleeved pants and shirts.
For more information on West Nile virus, including frequently asked questions about prevention, symptoms and transmission, visit www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus.