Fort Collins residents in the northeastern stretch of the city have a schedule change to account for this week, as city and county health officials have confirmed plans to spray the area for mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. According to the City of Fort Collins, the treatment is set for Thursday, Aug. 28, starting at dusk and wrapping up by the early hours of the next morning, roughly 2 a.m., weather allowing. If rain interrupts these plans, the backup date for spraying is Sunday, Aug. 31.
The target zone stretches from Shields Street to I-25, trapped between Douglas Road and Mulberry Street, and then sprawling from I-25 to County Road 5, with Vine Drive and Mulberry Street marking the boundaries. A map has been made available for residents to check whether they fall within the spray area. Those with gardens, ponds, or sensitive areas have been advised by health officials to cover them with a sheet or tarp to reduce pesticide exposure. Despite the spraying set to minimize the public health threat posed by these mosquitoes, it may cause some inconvenience.
The chosen pesticide is a permethrin-based product that will be dispersed as a fine mist from fogging trucks operated by Vector Disease Control International (VDCI). The city notes that minimizing pesticide exposure is possible by staying indoors and keeping doors and windows closed for an advised 30 to 60 minutes after the trucks have treated the area. They also recommend bringing pets inside for safety. For those curious or concerned about the whereabouts of these trucks, GPS tracking is available online as they progress through the affected areas.
The City has reached out to the Parks & Recreation departments, Poudre School District, and Colorado State University. Ensuring that no outdoor events will be unduly affected, spraying schedules have been calibrated to take place later in the evening, once any scheduled festivities have concluded. This mindfulness of community activities underscores the thoughtfulness with which the city and county address public health concerns.
This mosquito mitigation effort stems from the recommendations put forth by the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment and aligns with the City's West Nile Virus Management Policy. These actions underscore the ongoing commitment of local health agencies to curb the spread of West Nile virus and protect the community from its associated risks.
