NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
14 August 2003

WEST NILE VIRUS SPRAYING SLATED FOR CITY ON TUESDAY, AUG. 19

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that West Nile Virus spraying will begin in the city on Tuesday, August 19. The effort is designed to eradicate the breeding areas for the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

Reed said this is the first time in 2003 that spraying will be conducted in the city. Numerous reports of West Nile Virus infections have occurred throughout the midstate so far this year, but none have been reported in Harrisburg. The spraying, which involves the application of mosquito exterminant to standing pools of water, is conducted by the Dauphin County Extension Office’s West Nile Virus Program.

The mayor said the spraying effort was conducted several times last year at The height of mosquito season. Employees from the extension office go block by Block, spraying any standing pools of water that they may encounter. Mosquitoes Can breed in even the smallest amounts of standing water, such as could be found in An old tire or other discarded debris, or even a birdbath.

XXX