A second West Nile Virus related death has been reported in the Dallas-area, so if anyone had any thoughts that this mosquito problem wasn't serious, it's time to put those thoughts away. To help combat the mosquitoes, the City of Richardson will be spraying a portion of southeast Richardson on Thursday, July 19.
The area being sprayed is bounded by East Arapaho Road south to Buckingham Road and from Greenville Avenue east to Plano Road. The trucks will be spraying from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and while the insecticide isn't harmful to humans, city health officials still recommend that residents stay indoors during these hours.
The Richardson Health Department schedules mosquito sprayings based on positivie findings of West Nile in mosquito traps placed around the city or if a human case if confirmed. However, spraying to control the population of mosquitoes and the spread of West Nile is a last resort. Instead, the city urges residents to help and do their part to limit the mosquito population by following the Four D's of protection:
- Drain standing water around the home
- Use insect repellent containing Deet
- Avoiding behind outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
- Dress to protect yourself with long sleeves and pants to reduce skin exposure
Symptoms of West Nile virus vary depending upon the person who becomes infected. People who do develop symptoms usually suffer from mild "flu-like" symptoms. Rarely, symptoms may require medical care or hospitalization. The people who are most susceptible to the disease are the very young, the very old and those with weakened immue systems.