Lakeland neighborhoods are included in the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) mosquito spray schedule for next week — Tues. July 24th.
Go to https://www.shelbytnhealth.com/153/Mosquito-Control-Activity-Schedule to view the most current schedule and the exact boundaries of each scheduled spray. New maps will be added weekly to reflect updated schedules.
The SCHD continues to test mosquitoes for the presence of West Nile virus. There were no new positive test pools confirmed this week. To date, positive tests pools have been previously confirmed in the 38016, 38018, 38107, 38108, 38111, 38112, 38114, 38115, 38117, 38118, 38120, 38122, 38127, 38133, 38134 and 38141 ZIP codes.
Since February, the SCHD’s Vector Control Program has treated areas by applying larvicides to standing bodies of water. These actions are consistent with the efforts to be proactive in decreasing the adult mosquito population. Larviciding is the practice of applying an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insecticide to areas where mosquito breeding has been confirmed and is the most effective way of eliminating mosquito populations.
As an additional precaution, SCHD will conduct mosquito control activities, including truck-mounted spraying (adulticiding) of EPA-approved insecticides, weather permitting*, in portions of specific ZIP codes according to the following schedule from 8:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Monday, July 23rd
ZIP Codes: 38127, 38128, 38053
Tuesday, July 24th
ZIP Codes: 38128, 38135, 38127, 38002
Wednesday, July 25th
ZIP Codes: 38018, 38028, 38016, 38017, 38125, 38141, 38117, 38119
Thursday, July 26th
ZIP Codes: 38109, 38116
Individuals with chronic health problems such as asthma or other lung conditions may want to remain indoors during the time of spraying. Citizens who do not want their residences to be sprayed should contact the Vector Control Program at 222-9715.
Humans can contract WNV through an infected mosquito’s bite. Although WNV can occasionally cause severe disease, most human infections are mild, resulting in fever, headache and body aches lasting only a few days. Symptoms of severe disease include a high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma or convulsions. Individuals over age 50 and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe disease. They should especially be careful to avoid mosquito bites.
* To ensure the insecticide is most effective, the scheduled spraying will be canceled if any of the following weather conditions are present for the majority of the schedule spray time:
- Greater than a 65% chance of rain
- Wind speeds 11mph or greater
- Temperature less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit
Follow @ShelbyTNHealth on social media for the most up-to-date cancelations of any scheduled sprayings.
From Heather Burton Fortner, MPA, Regional Hospital Coordinator, SCHD
