CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Ross County Health District (RCHD) will conduct mosquito spraying on September 3, 2025, after 8:00 p.m., following the detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) in mosquito traps across the county. The spraying, targeting adult mosquitoes, will cover Concord, Green, Harrison, Huntington, Springfield, and Union Townships, as well as parts of Wards 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Chillicothe. If rain or high winds interfere, the operation will be rescheduled for September 9, 2025.
The decision comes after mosquito pools from Concord and Green Townships and Chillicothe tested positive for WNV, marking the first such cases in Ross County this season. The confirmation was received by RCHD’s Director of Environmental Health, Kelly Spindler, and Health Commissioner Janelle McManis. While no human cases have been reported, the health district is taking proactive measures to protect residents.
The spraying will utilize Duet, an EPA-approved adulticide deemed safe for use in residential and recreational areas when applied correctly, posing no harm to people, pets, animals, or the environment. The RCHD has confirmed no registered beehives in the spray zones, and bees are unlikely to be affected as they are inactive during the evening hours. Residents wishing to opt out of spraying near their homes can contact RCHD at 740-775-1158 or [email protected] by 4:30 p.m. on the spray date.WNV, for which there is no vaccine or specific treatment, affects 8 out of 10 people asymptomatically. About 1 in 5 infected individuals may experience fever, headache, body aches, or rash, while 1 in 150 may develop severe, potentially fatal illness. To reduce risk, residents are urged to eliminate standing water in flowerpots, bird baths, and gutters and avoid outdoor activities from dusk to dawn. When outside, wearing long-sleeved clothing and using EPA-registered insect repellent is recommended.
For more details on Duet, visit https://www.clarke.com/product/duet-adulticide/. The RCHD emphasizes community cooperation to curb the spread of WNV as the season progresses.
