Mosquitoes With West Nile Prompt More Spraying In Longmont
LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4)- More mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Northern Colorado and that has prompted on community to take action.
Longmont prepared for more mosquito spraying on Friday evening. Those areas on the list are the Jim Hamm Nature Area, the Saint Vrain Greenway, the Watersong/Creekside/Rainbow Ridge Development, Sandstone Ranch and the Great Western/Mill Village Area.
There have been 113 human cases of West Nile confirmed in Colorado. Two people have died.
Most of the cases have surfaced in Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties.
In the past two weeks Boulder County has seen a sharp increase in the number of people infected with the West Nile Virus.
Although it's not unusual to spray so late in the season with the heat wave continuing into September mosquitoes have continued to breed. Spraying is designed to keep those numbers down.
"Right now with it being 90 to 100 degrees we're trending that way right now that the mosquito activity is lasting longer," said Colorado Mosquito Control spokeswoman Jessica Schurich.
Local mosquito traps and water tests are positive for an alarming number of mosquitoes and larvae that are carrying the West Nile Virus.
"In most seasons we would not still be seeing this activity," said Schurich. "All of the spraying that is being done is driven by the fact that the mosquito population data is not showing the normal die off."
July and August have historically been high mosquito season while the cooler temperatures in September and October usually reduce the risk. This year that hasn't been the case.
"We're really doing this on a spot spraying basis based on the communities and the neighborhoods that are really seeing the larger number of mosquito issues," said City of Longmont spokesman Dan Wolford.
