HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0005) IR 20-10477 - Aerial Spraying West Nile VirusINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 20-10477
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 15, 2020
Page 1 of 2
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Tarrant County Public Health has notified 12 Tarrant County cities, including Fort Worth, of its intent to
aerial spray for adult mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. While an exact date has not yet been set,
viral activity remains extremely high in the Northeast section of the County including the Northeast section
of Fort Worth. A map outlining the intended spray area is attached.
While positive mosquitoes have been located throughout the County and City, targeted ground spraying
has proven effective in all areas except the Northeast section. This area has been problematic every
season; however, the City has been able to mitigate the risks through education/prevention and ground
spraying missions. While ground spraying has temporarily reduced the number of adult mosquitoes, the
numbers quickly grow back and are much higher than the 2012 WNV Epidemic.
The County is reporting 18 confirmed cases with six of those cases located in Fort Worth. Four of the six
are located in the area of concern. This is much higher than years past and even at that it is under
reported as sick people are probably being tested for COVID19 and not for WNV. Of the six cases in Fort
Worth, four are the more serious neuroinvasive version of the virus. Typically, these account for less than
1 % of all community cases, so there are many more unreported cases.
The storms over the past two weeks have reduced source pools (fresh rain water washes out the dirty
water that larvae need to grow into adult mosquitoes) and this should reduce the number of mosquitoes
over the next 14 days; however, it does not address the current adult mosquitoes that are alive and
carrying the virus. An adulticide by ground or aerial spraying may be required to address these in a timely
fashion.
The City and County have been coordinating on trapping/testing and both agree that aerial spraying may
be required before the end of the season (November). A firm date has not been set, but could be if the
trap data/human cases continue to climb. If aerial spraying is required, both the City and County will
initiate robust communication/education in the affected areas including putting out additional street signs,
robocalls, Nextdoor, Socail Media and press releases.
The County is proposing to use Naled (Dibrom), which has been shown to be effective in breaking the
WNV cycle by reducing the number of infected mosquitoes, which will help save human lives. When used
according to the label, Naled (Dibrom) is considered safe and effective. It degrades very quickly in
sunlight. It is recommended by both TX DSHS and the CDC. A typical application uses 1.5 Tablespoons of
Naled, for an area the size of a football field.
The 12 affected cities and the County will share in the cost. If a mission is initiated, it will require two
consecutive nights to be effective. The anticipated cost to the City will be just under $45,000. For more
information, contact Brandon Bennett, Health Officer/Code Compliance Director at (817) 392-6322.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 20-10477
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 15, 2020
Page 2 of 2
Subject: AERIAL SPRAYING FOR MOSQUITOES CARRYING WEST NILE
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Tarrant County Proposed Aerial Spray Application:
North East Quadrant, 091041202( KIP
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS