COLUMBUS, Ohio – Franklin County health officials are spraying early this year after West Nile virus was confirmed in mosquitoes in Grandview Heights.
READ MORE: In the Columbus Dispatch
Franklin County Public Health sent out spray trucks in Prairie Township Monday night and will continue this week in communities across the county. Columbus health officials said they are moving up trapping and testing because of the county’s find.
“This is way early,” said Jose Rodriguez, spokesman for Columbus Public Health. “Much earlier than we are used to seeing.”
Melanie Amato, spokeswoman for Ohio Department of Health, said this is the earliest case of West Nile in mosquitoes since 2011.
The Grandview mosquitoes were trapped on May 26 and tested May 27.
Niki Lemin, Franklin County Public Health’s director of environmental health, said no one should be surprised. “It could happen at any point during the season,” she said.
Rodriguez said this trapping and testing will begin in Columbus this week.
Spraying begins in Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff on Tuesday.
Communities with a high number of mosquitoes in their traps last week will also be targeted this week, Rodriguez said.
Tuesday – Clinton Township West
Wednesday – Bexley and Upper Arlington North
Thursday – Reynoldsburg East
Rodriguez says residents should take precautionary steps to protect themselves and their families.
Wear insect repellant containing DEET (follow package directions)
Limit outdoor activity at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
Mosquitoes breed in small amounts of water so empty all standing water around your home like in planters, containers, pet dishes, bird baths, and tires.