Chatham County Mosquito Control plans to treat portions of Savannah and several nearby islands Thursday evening as the county reports additional West Nile virus detections in its mosquito-surveillance program.
Weather permitting, treatment will begin approximately one hour before sunset Thursday, September 3.
The planned area includes:
Savannah east of East Broad Street to the Wilmington River and north of East Gwinnett Street to the Savannah River.
Causton Bluff, Hutchinson Island and Elba Island.
Isle of Armstrong, Oatland Island, Whitemarsh Island, Talahi Island and Wilmington Island.
Residents may see low-flying yellow county aircraft during the operation.
The county’s mosquito forecast for August 30 through September 6 lists the overall mosquito level as low.
However, officials said mosquitoes have become more widely dispersed across the region.
County traps recorded an overall decline of nearly 30% from the previous week, but traps along the Savannah River averaged six times as many mosquitoes as those outside the river corridor.
West Nile virus was detected at two additional locations last week, bringing the county’s 2026 total to 24 positive mosquito-surveillance samples collected from 11 sites.
That number represents mosquito samples—not 24 infections in people.
Chatham County uses a naled-based insecticide during aerial operations targeting adult mosquitoes.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registers naled for wide-area public-health mosquito control.
County aircraft use GPS equipment to document treatment routes.
Mosquito Control says its records show aerial applications are not made over schools, hospitals or groups gathered for outdoor events.
Residents can still reduce their risk of mosquito bites by using an EPA-registered repellent, wearing loose-fitting long sleeves and pants when practical, maintaining window screens and emptying containers that collect standing water.
Anyone who wants advance notifications about aerial treatments can register through Chatham County’s Smart911 system. Questions may be directed to Mosquito Control at 912-790-2540.
The flight schedule may change if weather conditions prevent treatment.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
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