Rock Hill to spray one-mile area after confirmed person with West Nile virus

City officials said an area within a one-mile radius of Oakdale Fire Station One on Saluda Street will be sprayed with insectide Wednesday, after a person with West Nile virus was found in southern Rock Hill.

The spraying will take place between about 8 p.m. Wednesday and 1 a.m. Thursday, officials said.

Chuck Haynes, director of York County Emergency Management, said the property around three schools in the area will be sprayed: South Pointe High School, Oakdale Elementary School and Saluda Trail Middle School.

At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols said the conference was called “out of an abundance of caution, and an opportunity to have an consistent message.”

Officials from the city, York County Office of Emergency Management, York County government and Rock Hill schools emphasized that finding cases of West Nile virus is not out of the ordinary.

“So why are we here?” Haynes said. “We’re here because the system works. Public health works. The surveillance to keep us all healthy works.”

Haynes said the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has a confirmed case of West Nile virus in a person, who is expected to be Ok. It also found the virus in the mosquito population in the area that will be sprayed, he said.

The virus is spread through mosquito bites. According to the DHEC, most people infected with the virus don’t develop any symptoms.

However, about 1 in 5 people infected will develop a fever with some other symptoms, and fewer than 1 percent develop meningitis, which can be potentially fatal, according to DHEC.

Deputy City Manager Jimmy Bagley said an independent pest control contracter will spray Aqua-Reslin from a truck starting at 8 p.m.

Haynes said beekeepers and people with organic gardens in the area may need to take precautions by moving hives or plants indoors when the insecticide is sprayed.

Haynes said the insecticide is not harmful to people. He said the machine is calibrated to put out about 1 ounce per acre, to target adult mosquitos specifically.

And Haynes said Rock Hill residents can help get rid of mosquitos too.

“No one likes a mosquito, so get rid of standing water,” Haynes said. “Use your insecticides to get rid of them. Wear Deet while you’re outside. Reduce the chance that you’ll be bitten by one of these mosquitos that could potentially carry a number of viruses.”

This story was originally published August 15, 2017 at 2:23 PM with the headline "Rock Hill to spray one-mile area after confirmed person with West Nile virus."