[04/04/03] City crews have started spraying for mosquitoes two months ahead of schedule in hopes of keeping down the population of insects that potentially spread the West Nile virus.

Warren County officials say they are also gearing up their spraying program outside the municipal limits and will begin “in a week or two.” L.W. “Bump” Callaway III, executive director of Warren County Emergency Management, said the best way to avoid the virus that can lead to meningitis, encephalitis and in some cases death is to educate the public.

“The main thing is to limit your exposure to mosquitoes,” Callaway said.

City crews began spot spraying in areas with heavy concentrations of mosquitoes last month, but are now running two trucks full time over 275 miles of streets, said Tommy Day with the city’s street department. Normally, the city does not begin spraying until June.

He said they began early this year because of the unusually high number of mosquitoes seen around the city.

Day said it takes about 4 1/2 days to spray the entire city, meaning most areas get sprayed twice a week. He said people should use precautions when going outside, especially when mosquitoes are the most active in the late afternoon.

“If they do go outside they should wear long-sleeve shirts and repellent,” Day said.

Day said people should remove any standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Callaway suggested that the water in bird baths or other ornamental ponds should be changed every two days.

“Even a bottle cap, because mosquitoes can breed in one ounce of water,” Day said.

Last year, 190 people in Mississippi were infected with the West Nile virus, and 12 died.

In Warren County, two human cases were reported and four dead birds and three horses were infected.

Symptoms of encephalitis can include headaches, muscle aches, nausea, paralysis or in severe cases, coma, but officials say that fewer than 1 percent of mosquitoes carry the virus.

“There are several different types of mosquitoes, but not every mosquito is a West Nile carrier,” said Rhea Fuller, Warren County road manager.

He said there are two types of mosquitoes common to Mississippi that carry the virus, the Southern House Mosquito and the Tiger Mosquito. Both breed later in the year.