COLUMBUS – Mosquitoes spawned in the pools and puddles created by this summer’s heavy rain are being targeted by local health officials in their battle to control the West Nile virus.
Rain in June and the first part of July left standing water, where mosquitoes breed and multiply easily, in many areas of Columbus, Worthington and Dublin, according to officials with the Columbus and Franklin County Public Health agencies.
City and county crews will spraying in the early-morning and evening hours in several areas where West Nile has been detected in mosquito pools or there have been a large number of the pests reported.
City crews sprayed on the Northwest Side Tuesday morning, will target the Northeast Side Wednesday, and the Near Northwest Side on Wednesday.
Click here to see a map of areas to be sprayed.
City crews spray between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m.
County trucks deployed across Dublin Monday evening and will focus on the northeast and north sides of the city Tuesday evening, says Amber Breedlove, health communication specialist with Franklin County Public Health. Mosquitoes in Dublin tested positive for the virus.
Trucks are slated to concentrate on Madison Township, Canal Winchester, Grandview Heights, and Marble Cliff Wednesday evening, Breedlove said.
All spraying by the county agency will begin around 8:30 p.m.
Residents are urged to remove temporary pools of water around their property, which may involve clearing debris from ditches, cutting small channels to help pooling water drain, or filling in holes and tire ruts with dirt, Columbus Public Health spokesman Jose Rodriguez said.