The latest lab report has confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in mosquitoes in three areas of Knox County. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol, the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) will spray for mosquitoes in the affected areas Thursday, August 13 between 9 p.m. and midnight, weather permitting, to reduce the mosquito population and the risk of WNV spreading to humans. 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. Follow-up spraying will be conducted Thursday, August 20, weather permitting. The spray areas are listed below, maps are also included.  

“We typically begin seeing positive mosquito pools this time of year,” said KCHD Director of Environmental Health Ronnie Nease. “It’s important for the public to continue to do their part to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites.”

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.

Gulf Park/Venice Road spray area: 
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 spray area: 
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. 

Fairmont Boulevard spray area:
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; North on Kuhlman Street from Fairmont Boulevard to Walker Boulevard will be treated Thursday evening.

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.