Abatement district to spray for mosquitoes by plane Tuesday

Update (9:45 a.m., August 20)

The Ouachita Parish Mosquito Abatement District will spray for mosquitoes by air Tuesday night from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Areas to be treated include those currently affected by the West Nile virus and are urban areas of Monroe, portions of Richwood and Swartz, and portions of the Calhoun area. 

Weather conditions, such as rain, fog or wind, could delay spraying operations.

Original story (Friday, August 17)

Five mosquito pools in Ouachita Parish have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Mosquito Abatement District. 

The pools were collected August 6 to 8. Monroe pools testing positive were located near the intersection of Interstate 20 and Orange Street, between South Grand and the Ouachita River and near Lakeshore subdivision.

The West Monroe pool was located between First Baptist Church of West Monroe and West Monroe High School. The Calhoun pool was near the intersection of Interstate 20 and U.S. 80.

According to a Friday statement from the district, affected areas will be treated by air Tuesday. 

People are advised to take protective measures when working outdoors, particularly during the evening. These measures include wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and using an EPA-approved repellent. Repellent should be applied to exposed skin and on thin clothing because mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing.

Care should be taken to ensure that water-holding containers are emptied to deny mosquitoes a place to breed.

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