The latest lab report has confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in mosquitoes near the East Emory Road area of Halls and the Beaver Ridge community. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol, the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) will spray for mosquitoes in the affected areas Thursday, Aug. 8 between 9 p.m. and midnight, weather permitting, to reduce the mosquito population and the risk of WNV spreading to humans. Follow-up spraying will also be conducted Thursday night in the Fourth Avenue area close to Interstate 275, where WNV was confirmed in mosquitoes last month. The spray areas are listed below.

Beaver Ridge Spray Area:
Greywolfe Drive, Hunters Trail, Saddle Creek Pass, Brookfield Crossing, Bridle Court, Wittenham Drive, Wycliffe Court, Shielingworth Court, Shalidar Drive and a portion of Meredith Road will be treated Thursday night. A map of the area is attached. Follow-up spraying will be conducted Thursday, Aug. 22.

Halls Spray Area:
Homestead Drive, Hallbrook Road, Arlie Drive, Zirkle Drive, Marshall Drive, a portion of Old Maynardville Pike, and the areas around Halls Middle and Halls High Schools will be treated Thursday night. A map of the area is attached. Follow-up spraying will be conducted Thursday, Aug. 22.

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 are scheduled for follow-up spraying Thursday night. A map of the area is attached. 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.

KCHD advises all residents to:
Wear appropriate clothing and repellant when outside and mosquitoes are present; Disposes 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 mosquito control program during the summer 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 mosquito 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.