BONHAM - At least one confirmed case of the West Nile virus has been detected in the city and three cases in Fannin County are under review.
Spraying will take place between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday night. The process will be repeated on September 11 and 12.
“We just felt like it was in the best interest and safety of the community. All indications that we received from the state is that the spray is safe. I know there’s some controversy about that, but we believe that spraying is in fact safe,” City Manager Bill Shipp said.
He adds that ground spraying can kill up to 80 percent of the mosquito population. But the population can be abundant again within two weeks after larvae hatch, which is why the city will perform another round of spraying in September.
Shipp was city manager in Commerce when the city sprayed for mosquitoes, as they still do. The difference is Commerce has a licensed applicator. Bonham has contracted with a Leonard firm to distribute the insecticide.
He says city crews remain vigilant of areas with standing water, working to drain themselves or inform property owners. The Bonham website has posted a list of preventative measures for citizens, such as wearing long sleeves at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Also Tuesday night and continuing through Thursday, insecticide is scheduled to be sprayed at each Greenville ISDcampus, following request by the district.
Spraying will take place at the Sixth Grade Center/Travis Elementary and Carver Elementary Tuesday, the Bowie and Lamar Elementary schools Wednesday, and L.P Waters Early Childhood Education and New Horizons (former Houston campus) on Thursday. All locations will be sprayed around 7:30 p.m. or later.
For more information, contact the Greenville Parks and Recreation Department at 903-457-2994.
