The latest lab report has confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in mosquitoes in a section of north Knoxville. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol, the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) will spray for mosquitoes in the affected area this week, weather permitting, to reduce the mosquito population and the risk of WNV spreading to humans. In addition to the north Knoxville area, three other areas of Knox County are scheduled for follow-up spraying this week. All spray areas will be treated between 9 p.m. and midnight each night. Signs will be posted in the affected areas to alert residents, who are asked to stay inside during spraying and keep pets inside or in the backyard. The areas are detailed below, maps are also included.  

Thursday, August 27 Spray Areas:

Gulf Park/Venice Road: 
Dutchtown Road from Christian Academy of Knoxville (CAK) to Blessed Way, including Manis Lane and the area around CAK; Embarcadero Drive; Cortez Drive; Tallahassee Drive; Sanders Road from Dutchtown Road to Venice Road; Venice Road; Ethans Glen Drive; Tampa Road; Suwannee Road; Gulf Park Drive; Galveston Road; Naples Road; Sarasota Drive; Mobile Drive; Briarwood Drive; Laurel Hill Road; and the areas around Cedar Bluff Primary and Cedar Bluff Middle School will be treated Thursday. 

Fourth Avenue: 
Cooper Street north of West Fifth Avenue; West Fifth Avenue from Cooper Street to Boyd Street; West Fourth Avenue; Elm Street; Marion Street; Dameron Avenue; Hatton Avenue; Burgess Avenue; Baxter Avenue from Elm Street to Wray Street; Lee Street; and Bernard Avenue will be treated Thursday. Due to another mosquito pool testing positive for WNV recently, this area will be sprayed again on Thursday, September 10, weather permitting. 

Sunday, August 30 Spray Areas:

Tower Drive:
Aurora Lane; Charlene Lane; Woodale Drive; Old Central Avenue Pike; Steeple Chase Apartment complex; Pratt Road; Tower Drive; Lawerence Road; Caron Drive; Sierra Road; Chesswood Drive; Woodleaf Drive; Sanford Road; Lutie Road; Oakcrest Road; Tillman Road; Rowan Road south to Henrietta Drive; Henrietta Drive east to Willowway Drive; Delapp Drive; and Griffins Gate Lane will be treated Sunday. Follow-up spraying for this area will be conducted Thursday, September 10, weather permitting. 

Fairmont Boulevard:
North on Walker Boulevard from Powers Street to Mineral Street; East on Valley View Drive to Whittle Springs Golf Course; South on Maxwell Street from Arbor Place to Edgewood Avenue; West of Edgewood Avenue from Maxwell Street to Barton Street; North on Barton Street from Edgewood Avenue to Fairmont Boulevard; and North on Kuhlman Street from Fairmont Boulevard to Walker Boulevard will be treated Sunday evening.

KCHD advises all residents to:
• Wear appropriate clothing and repellant when outside and mosquitoes are present;
• Dispose of, regularly empty or turn over any containers holding water on your property;
• Make sure roof gutters drain properly and water doesn’t pool in them;
• Change the water in birdbaths at least once a week; and
• Use a mosquito repellant that contains DEET (the chemical N-N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) and follow the directions on the label. Pregnant women and those who are concerned about using repellent products on children should consult their health care provider for advice.

To address the public health concerns caused by mosquitoes, KCHD conducts a West Nile Virus control program during the summer and fall months. As the weather warms each spring, public health professionals begin a weekly process of trapping and testing mosquitoes for WNV, a mosquito-borne disease which can infect humans, horses and birds. From March until the first frost, KCHD also uses larvicides in areas with standing water to prevent mosquito proliferation. More information on the WNV control program and prevention tips are available by calling 865-215-5200 or visiting www.knoxcounty.org/health and clicking on the Environmental Health section.

About Knox County Health Department:
The Knox County Health Department (KCHD) is a governmental agency dedicated to making every person a healthy person. KCHD conducts disease surveillance, prevention and control; emergency preparedness; nutrition and physical activity promotion; tobacco use prevention and control; health equity promotion; adult and child immunizations; and much more. KCHD wants to encourage, promote and assure the development of an active, healthy community through innovative public health practices. For more information, visit www.knoxcounty.org/health.