There were more than 60,000 acres in northwest Harris County sprayed Wednesday evening to combat the spread of West Nile Virus.
According to officials with the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services’ Mosquito Control Division, with West Nile Virus on the rise, the virus has been confirmed in more than 300 mosquito samples and nearly 100 dead birds.
The increase of West Nile Virus infection is being seen in not only mosquitoes but most notably in the dead bird population.
To combat the virus, there will be a huge ongoing countywide ground and aerial campaign implemented in Harris County within designated areas to ensure the health and well being of Harris County residents.
There were 60,000 acres chosen by the Harris County Mosquito control that were sprayed Wednesday evening to reduce the mosquito count; it is the hope that a reduction in the mosquito population would affect the West Nile Virus factor.
There have been 13 human cases of West Nile Virus reported in the city of Houston with three of those cases fatal. There have several dozen West Nile virus-related deaths in the state of Texas in 2012.
The insecticide that was sprayed in Harris County Wednesday is called Dibrom. It is an insecticide that is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Dibrom is considered to be safe for the environment and is routinely used to combat mosquito-borne disease.
Officials recommended that residents stay indoors while their area is being treated, as a precaution and remove standing water that may be near their homes.
Listen to News 92 FM’s Norm Uhl provide additional West Nile Virus updates in Texas below:
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Thousands Of Acres In Harris County Sprayed To Fight West Nile VirusĀ was originally published on news92fm.com
