The city of Burleson was notified that mosquitoes in Zones 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 22 tested positive for West Nile Virus. In response, the city will conduct two nights of ground-based spraying for mosquitoes in these zones between Friday, August 9, and Tuesday, August 13, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., weather permitting.
Positive zones are represented in yellow on the map.
Find out what zone you live in.
The spraying will be performed in targeted subdivisions within the designated spray zones. In the event of rain or if wind speeds are above 10 miles per hour, the spraying may be rescheduled. This method of spraying targets flying mosquitoes that come in contact with the pesticide in the spray. These times have been chosen because they are the times that most mosquitoes are active (flying).
This brings the city to 33 positives during the 2024 season.
Why doesn’t the city spray everywhere?
Preventive spraying is not as effective as targeted spraying in reducing mosquito populations. The city works closely with Tarrant County Public Health to monitor mosquito-borne illnesses that could impact public health and to make evidence-based decisions on how to treat mosquitoes most effectively while also working to reduce the chance of developing pesticide resistance in local mosquito populations.
Preventive spraying everywhere would be incredibly costly to the city, and if pesticide resistance were to develop, the city would lose one of its best tools for managing West Nile Virus, as not all mosquitoes carry the virus. It is also important to note that the city cannot legally spray outside of its jurisdiction.
Given these factors, the city opts for more targeted and strategic interventions rather than blanket spraying to manage the risk of West Nile Virus effectively. For additional information, please contact the city's Environmental Health Specialist, Kristen Tanz, at ktanz@burlesontx.com.
