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Ed Yeates Reporting The infection rate for the West Nile virus in mosquitoes is so bad now in Salt Lake County, a specially equipped out of state plane will aerial spray tonight over residential areas.
The threshold for aggressive action is when about four out of every thousand mosquitoes are infected with West Nile. In West Salt Lake County, Mosquito Abatement is now seeing 30 mosquitoes per one thousand carrying the virus. Nine out of every thousand in the county's south end have it.
Dagmar Vitek, M.D., Deputy Director, S.L. Valley Health Dept.: "When the mosquito population becomes positive above certain thresholds, then it becomes a threat to humans."
That's why between 9:00 and midnight tonight, a twin engine plane will aerial spray, killing mosquitoes in flight. The spray zone includes two thousand feet on either side of the Jordan River from 21st South to the Salt Lake, Utah County border. Also, more than 28-thousand acres of marshland west and north of the Salt Lake International Airport.
this is the first time in Utah, a specialized plane like this has been brought into the state to do widespread spraying over residential areas. The crew of the Dynamics Aircraft plane wear night goggles and use a unique navigation bar.
John Calhoon, Pilot, Dynamics Aircraft: "We actually have a little light bar that goes across the top of the glare shield, and it guides us to go either left or right and we can stay on course with an accuracy of about ten feet."
While spray is toxic to mosquitoes, the risk to humans is extremely low.
Dr. Sam Dickson, Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement: "The spray itself is going to come out at about one ounce per acre. The drinkers in the state would know that a one ounce shot glass is pretty small."
But still, some precautions to those in the spray zone, especially if you're sensitive to chemicals. While the plane is spraying, stay indoors, close windows and turn off window air conditioners. The aerial crew will spray again in about nine days.
