The sight of the city's mosquito-spraying truck is common around town throughout the spring and summer months.
But with the recent spike in cases of the West Nile virus across the country, it's about to be seen more frequently, as the Cullman sanitation department has added an additional day of spraying to its schedule.
According to city sanitation director Larry Jones, his department currently sprays Monday through Friday, beginning around 3 p.m. until dark, as well as combating the pests throughout the day by spreading water-conditioning pellets for mosquito traps around standing water and creeks.
"We've added one more day of work so that we can cover more ground to help out the city," Jones said.
Statewide, the Alabama Department of Public Heath (ADPH) is investigating 12 confirmed human cases of West Nile. Six are from Montgomery County, and three are in Mobile. Baldwin, Jefferson, and Tuscaloosa Counties all have reported one case. Friday morning, it was confirmed one person from Montgomery County had died from the virus.
In a press release sent out by the ADPH, approximately one in five people who are infected with West Nile virus will develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. According to the statement, the best way to prevent common diseases such as West Nile is to use insect repellents when going outdoors, wearing long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk, and installing or repairing screens on windows and doors.
"With many people enjoying outdoor activities, it is important that residents take every effort to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes," Dr. Dee W. Jones, State Public Health veterinarian, advised. "Keep your mosquito repellent with you at all times when you are working or participating in recreational activities outdoors."
Jones said it's also a good idea to empty any buckets or items around the house that hold still water.
"That's what's made them so bad this year, is all of the standing water we've had," he said.
Mosquitoes are commonly found in urban and suburban communities, as well as rural freshwater swamp areas. They also breed readily in storm sewers, ditches, waste lagoons and artificial containers around the house that may be full of water.
* Ashley Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 225, or by email at agraves@cullmantimes.com
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