Mosquito Control Update for Summer 2009
Knox County Health Department will be doing selective spraying this year in accordance with national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
KCHD’s plan includes:
Monitoring
- Doubling the number of surveillance sites
- Trapping and testing mosquitoes for West Nile Virus (WNV) beginning May 1
- Testing dead robins, crows and blue jays for WNV
Prevention
- Beginning March 1 each year: A larvacide is placed in more than 100 areas with standing water to prevent mosquito breeding
- Increase public awareness of ways to reduce the mosquito population on their property (recommendations are below for reference)
Mosquito Reduction Measures
- If any mosquito, bird, horse or human testing comes back positive for WNV, selective spraying will be used in the area where WNV is identified
- Spraying will not be used merely for nuisance reduction
For more specific information regarding spray areas and schedule please call the Environmental Health Division at (865) 215-5200 or e-mail us at mosquito@knoxcounty.org
