Ask Arlington: West Nile Virus Season & How to Prevent Mosquito Breeding
By Office of Communication
Posted on May 02, 2018, May 02, 2018

"Ask Arlington" is a show dedicated to answering the questions you have about what's happening in our city.

Each month, on the City's social media pages, we'll let you know what the topic of the "Ask Arlington" episode will be. All you have to do is post your question and we'll do our best to get it answered during our show.

This week's show features Aimee Rockhill-Carpenter, the City's Health Services Manager, to answer your questions about West Nile Virus and how to prevent mosquito breeding in Arlington.

Targeted ground spraying occurs following the City of Arlington Health Authority, Tarrant County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Spraying only takes place in areas that receive positive samples.

The City uses an ultra-low volume application of Aqua-Reslin, a water-based permethrin product, in specific areas where larviciding and other measures have not proven effective.

For more information about the targeted ground spraying, please call the City of Arlington's Action Center at 817-459-6777.

Prevention is the best defense against mosquito borne illnesses. Arlington residents are encouraged to identify, reduce and treat mosquito breeding sites around their property. Potential sources include potted plants, children's toys, buckets and other objects that collect rain.

Arlington residents are also reminded to enjoy the outdoors but remember the Three D's to prevent mosquito bites:

  • Dress in long sleeves and pants when you're outside. For extra protection, you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent.
  • DEET is an ingredient to look for in your insect repellent. Follow label instructions, and always wear repellent when outdoors.
  • Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood where mosquitoes can breed. This includes old tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, etc. Mosquitoes may develop in any water stagnant for more than three or four days. For shallow standing water that cannot be eliminated, check regularly for the presence of mosquito larvae and if seen, apply a biological larvicide often referred to as "mosquito dunks," available at local hardware stores.

Click here for more information about mosquito borne illnesses and what you should know.

The City's Office of Communication programs MyArlingtonTV. Viewers can find MyArlingtonTV programs on the following cable systems: Spectrum Channel 16 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99, and streaming capabilities at www.arlington-tx.gov.

You can find a weekly TV schedule for all of MyArlingtonTV's original programming by clicking here. All episodes are also available on the City's YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter account.

MyArlingtonTV Links:

Ask Arlington, West Nile Virus, MyArlingtonTV
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