Mosquito Spraying Continues Wednesday Night
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - Health officials will spray for mosquitoes in Fort Collins again on Wednesday evening. The effort is to prevent the spread of West Nile virus.
The spraying area is on the east side of the the city from Timberline Road to Interstate 25 and between Prospect and Harmony.
The Larimer County Health Department said it continues to see a high number of mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus.
"We try not to spray, that's really our stance. We use it as a last resort and we're lucky that the City of Fort Collins does a lot of preventative work every year and usually that covers our season. Some years are worse than others," said Larimer County Department of Health spokeswoman Katie O'Donnell.
The spraying begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday and will continue until midnight. The will also spray again on Sunday.
Fort Collins has a map that allows residents to track the trucks as they spray different neighborhoods. Health officials urge residents to keep their windows and doors shut during and for an hour after the spraying.
LINK: Colorado Department of Health's West Nile Virus Page
Additional Information From The Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment
To help prevent West Nile virus infection, follow the four D's:
– DRAIN standing water around your house weekly. Remember to drain water from tires, cans, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, toys and puddles.
– DUSK and DAWN are when mosquitoes are most active. Limit outdoor activities and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites during these times.
– DEET is an effective ingredient to look for in insect repellents. Always follow label instructions carefully.
– DRESS in long sleeves and pants in areas where mosquitoes are active.
For more information about West Nile virus, visit FightTheBiteColorado.com.
Check out Dr. Dave Hnida's recent blog entry on how to protect yourself against West Nile.
