Public Health to Spray for Mosquitoes

Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County provided the following information:

Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County’s mosquito control program has detected mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile Virus in traps set in Washington Township.

It is not uncommon for a mosquito to test positive for West Nile Virus, and Public Health’s program is designed to help educate the public about the diseases mosquitoes may carry, how they can protect themselves from mosquito bites, and how they can help reduce the mosquito population.

Public Health will spray in the following locations, weather permitting, on Tuesday, September 2 at dusk:

• School House Park

• Forest Field Park

The exact time of spraying is weather-dependent. Signs will be placed in the area of the spraying, and residents may call 937-225-4362 for more information.

Public Health will be spraying Duet, an adulticide mosquito control product. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated Duet and determined that using it according to label guidelines, in residential areas, including in and around gardens and over non-organic agricultural crop areas, does not pose a significant risk to people or animals. For more information about Duet, visit www.clarke.com/product/duet-adulticide.

Residents in the area of the spraying are also advised that:

• People and pets may be outdoors.

• The mist will dissipate within 5-30 minutes, depending on weather conditions.

• The Duet spray is not corrosive and does not stain.

When trapped mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus, Public Health takes the following actions:

• Sprays the affected area with Duet to help reduce the adult mosquito population when the mosquito is trapped in a contracted area.

There have been no reported human cases of West Nile Virus in Montgomery County in 2025, in 2024, there were 0 human cases reported, and in 2023, there were 2.

West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall.

There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

You can reduce your risk of WNV by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites.

Protect Yourself from West Nile

• Use EPA-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET and follow the label directions.

• If you are outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, be sure to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes and socks.

• Wear light-colored clothing, which is less attractive to mosquitoes.

• Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home.

• Make sure all roof gutters are clean and draining properly. 

• Eliminate standing water in your yard as well as from flowerpots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.

For more information, call 937-225-4362.