Follow up spraying will be done on Thursday, July 5, 9 p.m. to midnight, weather permitting.
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The Knox County Health Department announced Wednesday that they have received the first confirmed lab report confirming the presence of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes for 2012.
Four pools, located east, south and west, tested positive.
Following national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol, the affected areas will be sprayed to reduce the mosquito population and the risk of further WNV spread.
Spraying is scheduled for Thursday, June 21, 9 p.m. to midnight. Signs will be placed in the affected areas to alert residents, who are asked to stay inside during spraying and to keep pets inside or in the back yard.
Follow up spraying will be done on Thursday, July 5, 9 p.m. to midnight, weather permitting.
The spray areas will include:
East Knox County around Milligan Street
All areas east of North Cherry Street; north of Magnolia Avenue; west of North Beaman Street and South of I-40. Also included are Lakeside and Kirkwood Streets and American Avenue.
South Knox County
These streets: Echodale Lane, Wise Hill Road, Stone Road, Stoneoak Lane and Magazine Road from Stone Road to Martin Mill Pike; Royal Heights Drive, Judith Drive, Grandin Drive, Larry Drive, Beachwood Drive, Liveoak Drive, West Red Bud Road, Sarvis Drive South West and Maple Loop Road
from Sarvis Drive to West Red Bud Road.
Gulf Park Community
These streets: Dutchtown Road west-starting at Christian Academy of Knoxville (CAK) to Blessed Way including Manis Lane, Dutchtown Harbor, Dutchtown Villas and CAK; includes Embarcadaro Drive, Cortez Drive, Tallahassee Drive, Ethan's Glen subdivision and Sanders Road north from Dutchtown
Road to Venice Road; Venice Road from Sanders road-east including Tampa Road and Sawammee Road; Gulf Park Drive-west from Glaveston Road to Naples Road and west on Sarasota Drive from Glaveston Road including Mobile Drive; Briarwood Blvd. west of Chateaugay Road including Briarwood
Drive and Laurel Hill Road.
"This is early in the year for a positive report, but that is probably due to the unseasonably warm weather we've had through the early part of this year," said Ronnie Nease, KCHD director of Environmental Health. "The public shouldn't be afraid to go outside and enjoy summer activities. But
please remember, if you go outside when mosquitoes are prevalent, wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks, and use a mosquito repellant containing DEET."