Aerial Mosquito Spraying Coming Sunday August 30 To Benton County

If you look up Sunday evening, you'll probably see the crop duster over Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Grandview, and Prosser after 8pm.

Weather permitting, the Benton County Mosquito Control board says aerial spraying will be done in selected areas in and around these cities, in an effort to eliminate pockets where mosquito infestations have been discovered, or there are known to be insects carrying the West Nile Virus.

The spray is not harmful to humans or animals, and has proved to be very effective in helping cut back on the numbers of insects.

The virus, which most commonly affects those who are in poor health, elderly or infants, is usually not even noticed by most who may be bitten by an infected mosquito. But in some cases, neurological issues can arise from the virus.

According to the Mosquito Control Board:

SYMPTOMS OF WEST NILE VIRUS

Approximately 80 percent of people infected will not show any symptoms at all. About 20 percent will have milder symptoms, including fever, enlarged lymph nodes, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, or rash while less than one percent will develop severe neurologic illness as a result of the virus. Symptoms of severe disease include: high fever, severe headache, seizures, disorientation, and paralysis.