North Texas

Cities Opt Not to Spray Despite Results of West Nile Virus Tests

When mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in some North Texas cities you may not see spray trucks on city streets.

Colleyville had four different mosquito pools that tested positive for the virus, but city officials said they won't spray until there's a human case.

Three of the positive test results came from the Windview Estates near Cheek-Sparger Road. Henry Camperlengo lives in the neighborhood and said he puts on bug spray when he goes out.

"Yes, it concerns me, but I don't know what, other than to protect myself with the insect repellent, I can do," said Camperlengo.

Despite guidelines from the Tarrant County Public Health Department regarding when to spray when there's a West Nile-positive mosquito, Colleyville and a handful of other cities don't.

Many wait until there's a human case, and a Colleyville spokesperson said that's how many residents want it.

Dr. Joon Lee, with the University of North Texas Health Science Center, said spraying "helps."

"We just don't know how much it helps," he said. "The question is always when to spray"

Colleyville uses a larvicide program that involves placing larvicide briquettes in standing pools of water.  The larvicide has the same result as spraying, and that's eliminating mosquitoes.

Camperlengo prefers that method over seeing spraying trucks in his neighborhood.

"I think that the spraying probably kills just as many beneficial insects as it does dangerous insects," he said.

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