CANTON − Six more samples of mosquitoes collected in Canton the week of July 15 have tested positive for West Nile virus , the Canton Health Department said Friday.
The department says that brings to 13 the total number of mosquito samples that have tested positive for the virus in June and July.
The six locations were McKinley Memorial Park, Stadium Park, 1300 Henry Avenue SW, Mallon Park south of Meyers Lake, Weis Park and Richmond Avenue NE and Lesh Street NE.
Mosquitoes collected the week of June 3 from Weis Park the week of July 8; Stadium Park, the week of June 3; and Henry Avenue SW also tested positive.
Due to the test results, the Canton Health Department said it will move up its scheduled third round of mosquito spraying. It now will begin Monday and will continue until Aug. 7. Department officials targeted the dates to take place before most visitors arrive for Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival activities. The department had originally planned to do the spraying starting Aug. 12.
Related: More mosquitos in Canton test positive for West Nile
West Nile threat
So far no people in the area have tested positive for West Nile, the health department said.
Infected mosquitoes spread the virus to people through bites.
About 20% of those who test positive for West Nile develop symptoms. They can include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.
"We don't want anyone to get bit," said Gus Dria, the environmental health supervisor for the Canton Health Department. "If we lower the number of mosquitoes, it reduces the chance of someone getting it.”
Dria said the 13 positive tests in a summer is the most he's seen in Canton since he started working for Canton Health Department in 2018. He says migratory birds bring the virus into the area. Mosquitoes bite the birds and spread the virus to humans. Dria suspects the infected birds are flying north to Stark County earlier in the year due to climate change. And a mild winter and warmer and wetter spring have boosted the mosquito population.
The health official said Canton Health Department collects 24 mosquito samples in the city per week for West Nile Virus testing, except in weeks with holidays.
Spraying locations
Spraying will start with the northwest area of Canton from Monday to Wednesday, and continue with the southwest area Thursday and Aug. 2. Spraying will be done in the northeast area of the city on Aug. 5-6; and the southeast area will be sprayed Aug. 7.
The Canton Health Department released a listing of the streets and segments of Canton to be sprayed and when.
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @rwangREP.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: West Nile virus detected again in Canton: Health Department advances spraying schedule
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