Kettering to Spray for Mosquitoes at Local Parks

KETTERING, Ohio - As part of routine mosquito monitoring, the City of Kettering is taking proactive steps to protect public health after Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County's mosquito control program detected mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus in traps set in the Kettering area.

Working with Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, the city will conduct targeted spraying around Southdale Park and Oak Park on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at dawn, weather permitting. This proven mosquito control treatment is designed to reduce mosquito populations and minimize disease transmission risk. The exact time of spraying is weather dependent. Notification flags will be placed in the area of the spraying and residents may call the Parks Department at (937) 296-2486 for more information.

It is not uncommon for a mosquito to test positive for West Nile Virus. The last reported human case of West Nile Virus in Montgomery County was in 2023, according to Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County.

Public Health's program is designed to help educate the public about the diseases mosquitoes may carry, how they can protect themselves from mosquito bites and how they can help to reduce the mosquito population.

The city will be spraying Duet, an adulticide mosquito control product. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated Duet and determined that using it according to label guidelines, in residential areas, including in and around gardens and over non-organic agricultural crop areas, does not pose a significant risk to people or animals. For more information about Duet visit https://www.clarke.com/product/duet-adulticide/

Residents in the area of the spraying are also advised that:

• People and pets may be outdoors.
• The mist will dissipate within 5-30 minutes depending on weather conditions.
• The Duet spray is not corrosive and does not stain.
• The City will not spray within 20 feet of residential property.

Locations to be sprayed include:

• Southdale Park (3036 Bellflower Street)
• Oak Park (2055 Malcom Drive)

You can reduce your risk of West Nile Virus by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites.

Protect Yourself from West Nile

• Use EPA-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET and follow the label directions.
• If you are outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, be sure to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes and socks.
• Wear light-colored clothing, which is less attractive to mosquitoes.
• Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
• Make sure all roof gutters are clean and draining properly.
• Eliminate standing water in your yard as well as from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.

For more information about West Nile Virus, you can contact Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County at 937-225-5700 or visit their website https://phdmc.org/programs-a-to-z/mosquito-and-vector-disease-control or the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/index.html

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