West Nile discovery spurs pesticide spraying

Columbus and Franklin County health agencies will be spraying pesticides in a number of communities on Tuesday after mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus were found in traps.

Weather permitting, Columbus Public Health will spray from 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. in the Far North, Hayden Run and Northland neighborhoods and in south Worthington. Franklin County Public Health will begin spraying at about 9 p.m. in western Westerville, Canal Winchester and Urbancrest.

Maps of areas being sprayed, and other mosquito information, can be found at https://www.columbus. gov/publichealth/programs/ Mosquito-Spraying-Map/ and at https://www.myfcph. org/environmental-health/ mosquitoes.

Columbus sprayed pesticides in Linden and on the Northeast Side earlier this month after mosquitoes trapped there tested positive for West Nile virus.

West Nile can be spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. While most people have no symptoms, about one in five will develop a fever that might be accompanied by a headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. In severe cases, it can lead to encephalitis or meningitis, inflammatory diseases that affect the brain and spinal cord.

To protect against West Nile, health officials suggest:

• Limiting outdoor activity at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active, or wearing long sleeves and pants, socks and shoes.

• Using insect repellent registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (such as one containing DEET).

• Installing or repairing window screens.

• Eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can breed, such as in buckets, flower pots, bird baths, toys or wading pools.

To report a mosquito problem in Columbus, call 311 or 614-645-3111. Elsewhere in the county, complete a service-request form at https://www.myfcph.org/ environmental-health/mosquitoes or leave a message at 614-525-2483 (BITE).