The City of Arlington says they'll spray for mosquitoes in after one of the insects trapped near Pantego tested positive for West Nile virus.
The infected mosquito was collected in a trap near West Park Row Drive and Forest Edge Drive.
As a result, the city will begin targeted ground spraying in the affected area, including part of neighboring Pantego, on Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10, from about 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning.
The area to be sprayed is loosely defined as Pioneer Parkway to the south, Shady Valley to the west, Bowen Road to the east and Sheffield Drive and Blackwood Drive to the north.
Arlington recently sprayed for mosquitoes on the southwest side of the city after a mosquito tested positive for the virus near the Overland Stage neighborhood.
- Dress in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent.
- DEET: Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent.
- Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood: Mosquitoes can develop in any water stagnant for more than three days.
It has been recommended in the past that to avoid mosquito bites you should avoid being outdoors during Dusk and Dawn (the 4 Ds). While this is true for mosquitoes that commonly carry the West Nile virus, other types of mosquitoes that are more likely to carry Zika, dengue and chikungunya are active during the day. When outdoors, no matter what time of day, adjust your dress accordingly and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as your first line of defense against insect bites.
