Dallas – Weather conditions permitting, DCHHS will spray an area of the Town of Highland Park (Mapsco 35-M) South of Mockingbird, West of Airline, North of Euclid, and East of Drexel after 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

Residents are encouraged to stay indoors and avoid contact with the spray.  In order to spray winds must be below 10 mph and the temperature should be between 70 and 80 degrees.

With the July 4th Holiday Weekend approaching, it is important that people remember to protect themselves and their families from West Nile virus.  The best way to avoid exposure to West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses is to use the three Ds - use insect repellent that contains DEET, picaradin or lemon oil of eucalyptus, drain any standing water, and dress in long clothing.

The public can receive information on infected mosquito pools in Dallas County by sending an e-mail to westnile@dallascounty.org to be added to the West Nile Watch distribution list. This publication is distributed by email weekly during mosquito season and contains a list of lcoations within Dallas County where mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile Virus.

DCHHS continues to work with its municipal partners to protect Dallas County residents from mosquito-borne illnesses. DCHHS West Nile prevention activities include surveillance, source reduction, larvaciding (killing mosquito larvae or wigglers), adulticiding (spraying for adult mosquitoes), and public education.  Dallas County has enhanced is early detection capability through the use of gravid traps for mosquito collection and global positioning systems equipment provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

For more information about mosquito activities in Dallas County, call the DCHHS Environmental Health Division at (214) 819-2115 or visit our West Nile website at www.dallascounty.org.