The Richardson Health Department conducted ground spraying this week in areas of the city (see map) to help prevent the spread of West Nile virus, after a trap located within the spraying location returned mosquitoes that tested positive for carrying the disease. This is the first positive test result for the virus this year in Richardson; the City began collecting test samples on a weekly basis in April.
The test pool monitoring and ground spraying are part of a comprehensive plan followed by the Health Department to control the mosquito population—other activities include:
- implementation of a residential pool abatement program,
- treatment of storm drains,
- use of larvicide and mosquito-eating fish along creeks and other stagnant bodies of water, and
- public education efforts through mass communications channels.
Mosquito-borne viruses such as West Nile and Zika can cause illness and sometimes even death—individuals can protect themselves from mosquito bites by following the “Four Ds of Protection;” see below under Environmental for details.
More information: www.cor.net/mosquito
