The city of Frisco is ground spraying for mosquitoes Oct. 12 and 13 after three mosquito pools tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to the city's communications office.
A total of eight Frisco mosquito pools have now tested positive for WNV. No human cases of the virus have been confirmed in Frisco.
Spraying will take place from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. each night, weather permitting. The areas to be sprayed include three neighborhoods in Shaddock Creek and Starwood and an area near Coit Road and Rolater Road.
Paved jogging trails and tree-lined creek areas in Shaddock Creek and Starwood will be sprayed Oct. 12–14 with the use of an off-road vehicle.
"We can't stress enough the importance of draining any standing water and using repellents this time of year," Environmental Health Supervisor Julie Stallcup said in a city news release. "Our entomologist tells us the reason cities throughout our region are experiencing an increase in positive mosquito pools is because birds are migrating south, and mosquitoes are drawn to the birds' nests. In other words, as the bird population increases in our area, so does the potential for more mosquitoes becoming infected with the virus since the insects prefer to feed on birds. It's a cyclical problem that coincides with a busy time of year when folks may forget to practice 'The Four D's.'"
A city of Frisco fogger truck will spray the impacted neighborhoods. The truck will emit a 300-foot swath of spray from the back of the vehicle. City staff recommends residents stay indoors during spraying, bring pets indoors and refresh animals' outdoor water dishes the next morning.
Fogger truck operators will turn off the fogger and go around people or pets it encounters.
The city of Frisco supports precautionary steps promoted by the Texas Department of State Health Services, which are commonly referred to as "The Four D's":
Drain all standing water.
Dress in light-colored, long-sleeve clothing when outdoors.
Deet—use mosquito repellents that contain deet.
Dusk or dawn—avoid outdoor activities during these hours when mosquitoes are most active.
More information is available through the city of Frisco's Health and Food Safety Division of the Development Services Department at 972-292-5304 or by visiting www.friscotexas.gov/wnv.
