KNOXVILLE (WATE) - The health department will spray nine areas of Knox County through this weekend due to West Nile Virus found in mosquitoes.
The affected areas will be divided up and sprayed on Thursday, August 23 and Sunday, August 26, between 9:00 p.m. to midnight, weather permitting.
West Nile Virus encephalitis is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause brain inflammation. The symptoms may include: fever, headache, and body aches, often with skin rash and swollen lymph glands.
More severe infections may include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, stupor, disorientation, convulsions, paralysis, coma, and rarely, death.
Health officials say people over age 50 and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to developing the disease.
West Nile Virus is not spread by birds and can't be transmitted from person to person.
"The Culex species of mosquito is the main carrier of WNV," said KCHD Environmental Health Director Ronnie Nease. "It hides in shady areas during the day but comes out at dawn and dusk for a blood meal in order to reproduce. The striped Asian Tiger mosquito that is so aggressive is not known to carry West Nile Virus. People should be aware and stay vigilant about reducing standing water on their properties."
Knox County officials have expanded their mosquito surveillance sites from 11 to 14 as a precaution, due to the number of areas that tested positive.
Follow up spraying will be done two weeks following, and a notice will be sent out then.
"This type of prevention is very important, and it is something Knox County can do to protect the community," said county Mayor Tim Burchett in a press release. "But it is also very important for individuals to help out by taking a few simple steps to make sure their own property doesn't become a breeding ground for mosquitoes."
Thursday night's spray area includes:
Fourth Avenue area
Cooper Street north of W 5th. Avenue, W 5th. Avenue from Cooper Street to Boyd Street, W 4th. Avenue, Elm Street, Marion Street, Dameron Avenue, Hatton Avenue, Burgess Avenue, Baxter Avenue from Body Street to Wray Street, Lee Street and Bernard Avenue
East Knox County around Milligan Street
All areas east of North Cherry Street; north of Magnolia Avenue; west of North Beaman Street and South of I-40. Also included are Lakeside and Kirkwood Streets and American Avenue
South Knox County
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, West Red Bud Road, Sarvis Drive South West and Maple Loop Road from Sarvis Drive to West Red Bud Road.
Gulf Park Community
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 Suwannee Road; Gulf Park Drive, Pensacola Road, Sarasota Drive, Galveston Road, Mobile Drive; Briarwood Blvd. west of Chateaugay Road including Briarwood Drive and Laurel Hill Road
Heron's Point/Choto area
Amber Woods, Bayview West, Choto Farms, Heron's Point, Livery, Mallard Bay, Tanglewood, Walnut Grove, and the Woods at Montgomery Cove. Subdivisions NOT included are: Bailey Park, Choto Fields, Greystone Court, and Montgomery Cove
Cumberland Estates Subdivision
All areas within Royalview Road, Robindale Road, Willowdale Drive, Silverhill Drive, Newberry Road, Landon Drive and Palmetto Boulevard. Also Short Road, High Drive and Nickle Road from Western Avenue to High Drive
Sunday night's area
involves:
E. Gov. John Sevier Highway
Gov. John Sevier Highway-south of Strawberry Plains Pike to
Trebor Lane: Thorngrove Pike-west of Gov. John Sevier Hwy. to Bales Lane
Kimberlin
Heights Road/Chapman Highway
South Creek Subdivision, Kimberlin Heights Road from Tipton
Station Dr. to Deadrick Road, Sagefield Drive, Crossfield Drive, Basilfield Drive, Pennyroyal Drive, Twinleaf
Lane, Harmon Road, Konda Drive and Karla Drive
Halls
Homestead Drive, Hallbrook Road, Zirkle Drive, Marshall
Drive, Arlie Drive, Old Maynardville Pike, Halls High and Middle School and
Halls Library
