Aerial Spraying for Mosquitoes Begins Tuesday Night

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District will begin spraying insecticides over Elk Grove and Wilton Tuesday night, after carrying West Nile virus in the area.

Workers will disperse the chemicals from the air beginning at about 8:00 p.m. and lasting through midnight, according to the district. The insecticide, known as Evergreen 60-6, contains the same active ingredient as children's head lice medicine.

While district officials said the spraying does not pose a health hazard to humans, they encouraged residents to stay indoors while it is happening.

In Elk Grove, the area to be sprayed runs between Mack Road and Elk Grove Blvd, from I-5 to Waterman Road. (See attached map.)

District workers have at ground level to reduce the local mosquito population. By early August, the district had discovered 83 positive samples for West Nile virus among mosquitoes and animals in Sacramento County, lower than at the same time last year but higher than in all of 2009.

While the samples were spread across the county, Elk Grove and Wilton were particular hot spots for the virus, officials said.

“Our surveillance efforts indicate high infection rates in these areas,” said district manager David Brown said in a news release.  “Aerial spraying in addition to the ongoing ground treatments is necessary to reduce adult mosquito populations, interrupt the virus transmission cycle and to protect public health.”

West Nile virus can cause flulike symptoms in humans and sometimes leads to chronic, serious illness or even death. No human cases have been discovered in the county this year, but there have been at least 12 statewide, according to the district.

The district will conduct a second round of spraying at the same time Wednesday night, officials said.