Mosquito Spraying Planned for Thursday After Another Positive West Nile Test

Another round of spraying to kill mosquitoes is planned for Thursday night in the same Beverly neighborhoods that spraying was conducted last month.

Bill Burke, Beverly’s Director of Public Health, said on Wednesday morning that the spraying is happening in response to a positive test of West Nile Virus in a mosquito.

The spraying of an adulticide treatment will be done by the Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District in the Raymond Farms, Shingleville and portions of the Ryal Side neighborhoods of the city. The area that will be sprayed in similar to the area that was sprayed on Aug. 7.

The goal of the spraying is to reduce the mosquito population, Burke said. The spraying will happen between 8 p.m. and midnight.

Burke said that residents in the area that will be sprayed consider staying indoors when the spray truck is in the immediate area and recommends that residents close windows and shut off fans and air conditioners until the truck passes.

Burke and the Board of Health continues to remind residents that the best way to protect against West Nile Virus is to take personal precautions against mosquitoes using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves or other protective clothing, minimizing outdoor activity between dusk and dawn and eliminating standing water.