[ back ]
Mosquito spraying starts June 17
The Franklin County Board of Health has been actively trapping mosquitoes throughout Franklin County since early May. The very warm spring and recent rainy patterns have created ideal breeding conditions for large numbers of culex and flood water nuisance mosquitoes. Traps are beginning to show very high numbers of culex mosquitoes. Culex mosquitoes are the species responsible for transmitting West Nile virus to humans. No mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus at this time.
In order to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes, the Franklin County Board of Health will be spraying in Franklin Township beginning at dusk on Thursday, June 17. Maps of the areas that will be sprayed can be found on the county’s website at www.franklincountyohio.gov/health. Residents are encouraged to visit the web site often for spray maps and other mosquito information.
For your safety and the safety of the operators, do not approach or walk up to a spray truck. If you are in your car do not follow a spray truck when it is operating. If you are in a vehicle, raise the windows, turn on the air conditioning (on recirculation mode), and wait for the truck to pass or find an alternate route. Be advised that you may also want to remain indoors with the windows closed when spraying is taking place (if possible). Typically, windows can be reopened within 30 minutes after spray trucks have passed.
Now is a good time for residents to help eliminate breeding areas in their own yards.
- Empty, remove, cover or turn over any container that has the potential to hold water.
- Make sure gutters and downspouts are free of blockage and are properly draining.
- Change the water in wading pools weekly and store indoors when not in use.
- Empty planters that hold water twice each week.
- Empty bird baths twice weekly.
- Empty your pets watering dishes daily.
It is a good reminder for residents to take precautionary steps to protect themselves and their families.
- Wear insect repellant containing DEET (follow package directions)
- Limit outdoor activity at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
- Eliminate all standing water around your home (mosquitoes breed in water and it doesn’t take much)
For more information on mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus visit www.franklincountyohio.gov. You can also call (614) 462-BITE (2483) to report problem areas in your community. Residents of Columbus should call 311.
[ back ]
