Updated: Arlington, Pantego to Conduct Targeted Ground Spraying for West Nile Virus
Editor's Note: This article was updated July 4 to reflect new spraying times for the Stagetrail Drive location.
The City of Arlington has confirmed one positive West Nile Virus (WNV) mosquito sample.
As a result, the City will conduct targeted ground spraying in the following location:
Targeted ground spraying will occur following the City of Arlington Health Authority, Tarrant County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Contractors will conduct targeted ground spraying Tuesday, July 4, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and on Wednesday, July 5, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Additionally, the Town of Pantego has confirmed one positive West Nile Virus (WNV) mosquito sample in an area on the City of Arlington's border. Even though the positive trap location was in Pantego, the CDC recommended targeted ground spraying distance from the trap location will include portions of the City of Arlington.
Contractors conducted targeted ground spraying on Sunday, July 2 and Monday, July 3, 2017 between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., for the Pantego site.
The City will use an ultra-low volume application of Aqua-Reslin, a water-based permethrin product, in specific areas where larviciding and other measures have not proven effective. Employees and contractors have conducted routine trapping and larviciding in strategic locations throughout the City since the beginning of the season. Crews have also surveyed low-lying areas for standing water.
Arlington residents are also reminded to enjoy the outdoors but remember the Three D's 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.
Click here for more information about mosquito borne illnesses and what you should know.
For more information about the targeted ground spraying, please call the City of Arlington's Action Center at 817-459-6777.
West Nile Virus 2017
News, Public Health