ASHLAND — The city will spray an insecticide on Aug. 10 and 11 to reduce the number of mosquitos in the area, a news release announced Monday.
Wards 1 and 2 will be treated with the insecticide, etofenprox, starting at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 10. Wards 3 and 4 will follow on Aug. 11.
Areas being treated include residential areas, city parks and alleyways, the press release said.
“In order to limit the risk of human exposure, the time of application follows the conclusion of all scheduled park activities including ball games, concerts and pavilion use,” reads the city’s website on its spraying program.
The city hired Stewart Environmental Services for $6,850 to do the spraying. Most of the cost, $4,000, is covered by a grant from the Ashland County Health Department.
Other strategies to kill the mosquitos include “dunks.”
The dunk is placed in a standing body of water, which causes the donut-shaped item to dissolve over 30 days and release a bacteria that is eaten by mosquito larvae. The bacteria is only fatal to mosquitos.
The Ashland County Health Department also places traps throughout the county. The traps “allow the health department to monitor the types of mosquitos in our area and the diseases which they are currently carrying,” reads the city’s website.
A health department was not immediately available to comment.
For more information on the spraying program, visit the city’s webpage dedicated to it.
