Mosquitoes in West Hills area of Knoxville test positive for West Nile virus 

The latest lab report has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus (WNV)in Culex mosquitoes in the West Hills area of Knoxville. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol, the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) will spray for mosquitoes in this area on Tuesday, Aug.8 between 8:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., weather permitting, to reduce the Culex mosquito population and the risk of WNV spreading to humans. Signs will be posted in the affected neighborhoods to alert residents, who are asked to stay inside during spraying and keep pets inside or in the backyard.

To reduce the risk of contracting WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases, KCHD recommends: 

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  • Applying repellants to skin often when outdoors; repellants can be lotions, liquids or sprays. The CDC recommends the use of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- registered repellants containing one of the following ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, paramenthane-diol, 2-undecanone or IR3535. The duration of protection varies by repellant. Read labels on products to determine when reapplications are necessary for optimal protection. 
  
  
  • Wearing socks and long, loose, and light-colored shirts and pants. 
  
  
  • Treating clothing with permethrin or purchasing pretreated permethrin clothing. 
  
  
  • Disposing of, regularly emptying, or turning over any water-holding containers on your property such as tires, cans, flower pots, children's toys and trash cans to reduce mosquito habitats. 
  
  
  • Using larvicides, such as mosquito torpedoes or mosquito dunks, to prevent mosquito proliferation in large water-holding containers, including bird baths and garden water features. If used properly, larvicides will not harm animals. More tips can be found at knoxcounty.org/health/mosquitoes.