KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Three areas of Knox County are scheduled to receive this season's first mosquito spraying Thursday night.
Health officials say lab reports confirm the presence of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in the east, south and west portions of the county.
The spraying is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. to midnight.
The spray areas include:
East Knox County around Milligan Street: All areas east of N. Cherry Street; north of Magnolia Avenue; west of N. Beaman Street and south of I-40. Also included are Lakeside and Kirkwood Streets and American Avenue.
South Knox County: These streets: Echodale Lane, Wise Hill Road, Stone Road, Stoneoak Lane and Magazine Road from Stone Road to Martin Mill Pike; Royal Heights Drive, Judith Drive, Grandin Drive, Larry Drive, Beachwood Drive, Liveoak Drive, W. Red Bud Road, Sarvis Drive South West and Maple Loop Road from Sarvis Drive to W. Red Bud Road.
Gulf Park Community: These streets: Dutchtown Road west-starting at Christian Academy of Knoxville (CAK) to Blessed Way including Manis Lane, Dutchtown Harbor, Dutchtown Villas and CAK; includes Embarcadaro Drive, Cortez Drive, Tallahassee Drive, Ethan's Glen subdivision and Sanders Road north from Dutchtown Road to Venice Road; Venice Road from Sanders Road-east including Tampa Road and Sawammee Road; Gulf Park Drive-west from Glaveston Road to Naples Road and west on Sarasota Drive from Glaveston Road including Mobile Drive; Briarwood Boulevard west of Chateaugay Road including Briarwood Drive and Laurel Hill Road.
Signs will be put up to alert residents, who are asked to stay inside during spraying and to keep pets inside or in backyards.
Follow up spraying will be done on Thursday, July 5, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, weather permitting.
"This is early in the year for a positive report, but that is probably due to the unseasonably warm weather we've had through the early part of this year," said Ronnie Nease, the Knox County Health Department's director of environmental health.
"The public shouldn't be afraid to go outside and enjoy summer activities. But please remember, if you go outside when mosquitoes are prevalent, wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks, and use a mosquito repellant containing DEET," Nease added.
