West Nile cases across the country and state are growing but the City of Newberry continues to protect its residents.
For at least the past 22 years the city has sprayed for mosquitoes that could carry the deadly virus, according to Newberry Public Works Director Mack Bartley.
This year is no different.
At night between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. when the biting, blood sucking bugs are most active, city crews hits the streets spraying a mist that quickly kills the bugs. But the spray is harmless to humans.
Bartley adds only the female mosquito bites.
He adds the spraying has changed as in new laws require that a GPS system be used and the route is documented.
The system also records the speed of the vehicle that the spray comes from and the amount sprayed.
City workers also mark spots where they see water puddles and try to repair them.
They also ask homeowners to check their property for mosquito breeding grounds which are areas that hold water or even pet water bowls or old tires.
Bartley adds that this summer’s wet weather has made the mosquito population increase.
So far 17 people in the state have been affected with the West Nile virus.
Of those eight people had no symptoms but infected people can suffer fever and experience body aches, fever, headache and fatigue.
No cases of West Nile have been reported in Newberry County.
Across the country at least 1,993 people have had the infection this year and 87 have died.
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