August 23, 2006

For Immediate Release       

Contact:  Sandy Kachur

713.439.6292

Martha Garza
713.439.6193

 

Aerial Spraying Scheduled To Combat West Nile Virus

 

Due to a significant increase of West Nile virus (WNV) activity, Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES) Mosquito Control Division has scheduled an aerial spray operation this week for portions of northeast and northwest Harris County to enhance the fight against mosquito borne disease.  The aerial application will begin Thursday evening, August 24th after dark and continue until 4:00am.  It is anticipated that the aerial application will take 2 days to complete.    

                                                                                                                      

Map of spray areas available at http://www.hcphes.org/hcmosquitoctrl/AerialSprayPlanInfoMaps/treatmentmap.pdf. The aerial spray operation is being conducted in response to surveillance findings indicating a continual increase in WNV activity (birds and mosquitoes) in portions of northeast and northwest Harris County. To date, there have been a total of 621 confirmed mosquito samples throughout the entire county. Because there is limited road accessibility in these portions of the county, aerial spraying is necessary to combat and control mosquitoes carrying the virus where ground spraying is less accessible and effective.  Evening spraying by trucks will also take place in smaller, more accessible areas.

 

The proposed aerial operation plan is to spray approximately 138,272 acres by air, weather permitting.  This operation will impact approximately 22 different zip codes.  This is the second aerial treatment this year in Harris County.  The first aerial operation occurred June 28th in portions of northwest and northeast Harris County with 265,000 acres being treated. Vector Disease Control, Inc. (VDCI) of Greenville, Mississippi will be conducting the aerial spray operation.  VDCI holds a contingency contract with Harris County to provide aerial application of adulticides on an “as-needed” basis. In 2005, VDCI aerially treated approximately 188,000 acres in Harris County.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires notification to the public when aerial spray operations are to occur. HCPHES continues to encourage residents to practice preventive measures to reduce their likelihood of being bitten by mosquitoes.  When outdoors, wear an insect repellent that contains DEET or Picaridin and apply as directed on the label.  Also, empty any containers that may hold water to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood.  Historically, July through September has been the peak time frame for disease transmission to humans in Harris County. For additional information and/or maps of West Nile virus activity in Harris County, visit www.hcphes.org.

 

(Dr. Rudy Bueno, Director of HCPHES Mosquito Control, will make this announcement and be available for interviews Wednesday, August 23rd at 10:00am at 3330 Old Spanish Trail, Building D.)