- Spraying will continue for four or five hours in two areas in West Pullman and Riverdale:
- An area is bounded by 115th St. on the north, 127th St. on the south, the MWRD Calumet water reclamation plant on the east, and Yale on the west.
- And the area is bounded by 130th St. on the north, the Little Calumet River on the south, Doty/Bishop Ford Expressway on the east, and city limits on the west.
Last week, the city sprayed on the Far South Side.
"Last week's spraying appears to have made a significant dent in West Nile Virus on the Far South Side, especially in Beverly, Morgan Park, Washington Heights and several other neighborhoods," stated Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Commissioner Terry Mason, M.D. "This week, based what we are currently seeing in our mosquito traps, we are taking quick and decisive action to protect the public health in the West Pullman and Riverdale neighborhoods."
Spraying will occur in an area where CDPH traps recently yielded mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus.
The spray is not harmful to people or pets, but residents may want to stay indoors and close windows.
Last year, 11 cases of West Nile - related illness-- 1 of which was fatal-- were reported in Chicago. Statewide, there were 101 reported cases and four deaths. Nationally, in 2007, 3,630 human cases of West Nile-related illness were reported. 124 of them were fatal.
So far this year, 12 Illinois counties have reported positives tests for West Nile in birds and mosquitoes. There has been one confirmed human case of West Nile- related illness in Kane County.
Mosquito Fighting Tips
For weekly updates on West Nile Virus activity in Chicago, visit City's Health Department (cityofchicago.org/health)
