The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment announces that spraying for culex mosquitoes will take place in some areas of unincorporated Larimer County on the same nights that the City of Fort Collins will be spraying. The areas in the County that are scheduled to be sprayed are highly populated, and are directly adjacent to areas being treated in Fort Collins.
To see a map of areas to be sprayed in unincorporated Larimer County, go to: www.comosquitocontrol.com
Weather permitting, and depending upon location, truck-based spraying for culex mosquitoes will occur on the nights of August 14 and 19 or on the nights of August 15 and 20.
Designated areas in unincorporated Larimer County (see map) that are north of the city limits will be sprayed on Wednesday August 14th and again on Monday August 19th. Designated areas (see map) in unincorporated Larimer County that are south of the city limits will be sprayed on Thursday August 15th and again on Tuesday August 20th. The mosquito spraying will be performed during the hours of 8 pm and 2 am on these nights. Due to the nature of this public health spraying, shutoff requests will not be honored this time.
The recommendation to spray was based on the high numbers of infected culex mosquitoes throughout the County and the continuation of rapidly increasing numbers of human cases of West Nile virus. Five more possible cases were reported to the Health Department on Monday. If those cases are confirmed to be positive, there will be a total of 17 confirmed human cases in the County, 14 of those having been reported over the last week.
In addition to community and neighborhood-level mosquito control, individuals should take personal action to prevent mosquito bites. The Health Department recommends the following:
• Use a mosquito repellent that has been proven to be effective against West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitoes. Ones that contain DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (with active ingredient PMD, or p-menthane diol) or IR3535 are good choices.
• Keep exposed skin covered or use a repellent when outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn or on cloudy days.
• Drain standing water in your yard or in your garden.
• Add mosquito-eating minnows to or a mosquito “dunk” to ornamental ponds that feature still water.
• Point a fan toward outdoor tables when eating out of doors to help blow away mosquitoes.
• Use netting over baby carriers and strollers
• Keep window screens repaired.
For more information on West Nile Virus, see larimer.org
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