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Posted February 28, 2004
 
Shelby County Preparing to Spray for Mosquitoes
 

Shelby County managers are gearing up to start mosquito spraying this month to ease concerns about the spread of West Nile virus.

Robert Kelley, the county's environmental services manager, said his department's two spray trucks will hit the streets sometime in mid-April, depending on weather conditions.

The trucks spray only near the homes or streets of county residents who call Environmental Services to request mosquito spraying. The number to make such requests is 669-3737. They will begin to take names in April.

Kelley said more than 50 requests had been logged by last week.

" People are calling us because of the ongoing panic about West Nile," Kelley said Friday. "We haven't started spraying yet and were already a month behind."

Shelby County officials said they will spray only in areas that fall outside city limits. People who make requests for spraying inside city limits are asked to call their city halls to find out what mosquito-control options are available.

The two Shelby County spray trucks can mist within a radius of about 100 feet as they travel along the roads. Drivers are expected to make most of their spray runs during 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when mosquitoes are most active.

Kelley said the sprayed insecticide will help control the spread of West Nile but not prevent the disease.

" We're not going to be able to get rid of the mosquitoes or West Nile, but spraying is something we can do to keep this under control," Kelley said. The spraying will continue throughout 2003 until cold weather begins.

The Alabama Department of Public Health said it expects West Nile virus to be a huge threat around the state this year.

Last year, Alabama recorded 41 human cases of West Nile, which resulted in three deaths. In 2001, three cases and one death were recorded.

Named for the African region of Uganda where it was discovered, West Nile disease usually causes a mild inflammation of the brain, accompanied by fever, headache, body ache and swelling. If infection occurs, immediate hospitalization is recommended.

The virus is spread by mosquitoes who feed off infected birds. West Nile infection cannot be spread through person-to-person contact.
 

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