Mosquito traps at Roswell Area Park and Garrard Landing Park have tested positive for West Nile virus, prompting pesticide spraying within a quarter-mile of both sites.
The Fulton County Board of Health notified the city after the traps came back positive, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. A county contractor, Vector Disease Control International, began treating the areas Tuesday, Sept. 1, and is scheduled to return Wednesday, Sept. 2. Both sessions start at 9 p.m., weather permitting, and last about an hour.
Spray trucks will travel roughly 15 mph through the treatment zones, according to Appen Media, which cited a city social media post. The spraying is scheduled at dusk to avoid disrupting pollinators and is safe for people and pets, the city's announcement said.
Officials have not publicly stated whether any human cases of West Nile virus have been identified in the Roswell area.
The detections fit a pattern across metro Atlanta this summer. Positive mosquito traps have turned up in Grant Park, DeKalb County and South Fulton since July, according to Fox 5. Vector Disease Control International conducted a similar quarter-mile spraying at Welcome All Park in South Fulton on Aug. 26 after a positive trap result there.
West Nile virus spreads through mosquito bites. The CDC estimates about 2,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year, though the agency considers that an undercount. Most infected people show no symptoms. When symptoms appear, they can include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Severe cases can affect the central nervous system and lead to hospitalization or death.
The city recommends residents take these steps to reduce exposure:
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent when outdoors.
- Wear long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk.
- Empty standing water from flowerpots, buckets, birdbaths, gutters and other containers.
- Check that window and door screens are in good condition.
Residents with questions can contact the Fulton County Board of Health at 770-520-7500 or visit FultonCountyBOH.com.
